Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§471 Initial Payment and Annual Installments of Charges Generally

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter IX— CONSTRUCTION CHARGES › § 471

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When you apply for a water right or make land entry, you must pay 5% of the construction charge into the reclamation fund as the first payment. Pay the rest in yearly installments; the first annual payment is due December 1 of the fifth calendar year after that first payment. You may pay sooner or in full. Entry can be made when the Secretary of the Interior announces water is available, and the first payment can be made when the per‑acre charge is fixed.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §471

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any entryman or applicant shall at the time of making water-right application or entry, as the case may be, pay into the reclamation fund 5 per centum of the construction charge fixed for his land as an initial installment, and shall pay the balance of said charge in annual installments. The first of the annual installments shall become due and payable on December 1 of the fifth calendar year after the initial installment: Provided, That any water-right applicant or entryman may, if he so elects, pay the whole or any part of the construction charges owing by him within any shorter period: Provided further, That entry may be made whenever water is available, as announced by the Secretary of the Interior, and the initial payment be made when the charge per acre is established.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section comprises part of section 1 of act Aug. 13, 1914. Remainder of section 1 is set out as section 472 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 471

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60