Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§498 Transfer of Management and Operation of Works to Water Users Generally

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter XI— MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF WORKS GENERALLY › § 498

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When most irrigated landowners pay, those landowners take control of the irrigation works; they must maintain them at their expense under rules the Interior Secretary accepts. The Government keeps reservoirs and their protective works until Congress says otherwise.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §498

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

When the payments required by this Act are made for the major portion of the lands irrigated from the waters of any of the works herein provided for, then the management and operation of such irrigation works shall pass to the owners of the lands irrigated thereby, to be maintained at their expense under such form of organization and under such rules and regulations as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior; Provided, That the title to and the management and operation of the reservoirs and the works necessary for their protection and operation shall remain in the Government until otherwise provided by Congress.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables. Codification Section is comprised of part of section 6 of act June 17, 1902. Remainder of such section 6 is classified to section 491 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands ActProvisions of this section as not amended, modified or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see section 1303 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 498

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60