Title 43 › CHAPTER 22 — RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OTHER EASEMENTS IN PUBLIC LANDS › § 952
People, livestock businesses, or transport companies that breed, graze, drive, or move animals may build reservoirs on unoccupied U.S. public land that is not reserved for minerals. They can control the reservoir and up to 160 acres around it while they keep it maintained and filled, following rules set by the Secretary of the Interior. The reservoir must not be fenced and must be open for anyone to use to water animals. The Secretary of the Interior can, under rules he sets, allow fences to protect animals, conserve water, or protect water quality. Even if a fence is allowed, the reservoir must remain open for anyone to water animals, and the Secretary can order the fence removed at any time.
Full Legal Text
Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 952
Title 43, Public Lands
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102