CHAPTER 3C —WATER CONSERVATION
SUBCHAPTER I—FACILITIES FOR WATER STORAGE AND UTILIZATION
SUBCHAPTER II—CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION PROJECTS
SUBCHAPTER I—FACILITIES FOR WATER STORAGE AND UTILIZATION
§§590r to 590x–4. Repealed. Pub. L. 87–128, title III, §341(a), Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 318
Section 590r, acts Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §1,
Section 590s, acts Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §2,
Section 590t, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §3,
Section 590u, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §4,
Section 590v, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §5,
Section 590w, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §6,
Section 590x, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §7,
Section 590x–1, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §8, as added Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 751, §1(4),
Section 590x–2, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §9, as added Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 751, §1(4),
Section 590x–3, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §10(a)–(e), as added Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 751, §1(4),
Section 590x–4, act Aug. 28, 1937, ch. 870, §11, as added Aug. 25, 1958,
The subject matter of former
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal of sections effective one hundred and twenty days after Aug. 8, 1961, or such earlier date as the provisions of
Sections repealed effective Oct. 15, 1961, by section 300.1 of former Title 6, Code of Federal Regulations, see Effective Date note under
SUBCHAPTER II—CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION PROJECTS
§590y. Authorization and purpose of investigation, construction, and maintenance of projects; title to projects; limitation on costs
For the purpose of stabilizing water supply and thereby rehabilitating farmers on the land and providing opportunities for permanent settlement of farm families, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as "the Secretary") is authorized to investigate and, upon compliance with the provisions of this subchapter, to construct water conservation and utilization projects in the Great Plains and arid and semiarid areas of the United States, and to operate and maintain each such project in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter; Provided, That the United States shall retain title to the dams, reservoirs, irrigation, and other project works until Congress otherwise provides: And provided further, That expenditures from appropriations made directly pursuant to the authority contained in
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §1,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1943—Act July 16, 1943, raised amount of expenditures for dams and reservoirs on any one project from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.
1942—Act Mar. 7, 1942, amended last proviso.
1940—Act Oct. 14, 1940, reenacted section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
Angostura Project
Act Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 630,
§590z. Utilization of services, materials, funds, etc., of Federal, State, or municipal agencies, or of individuals
In connection with the investigation, construction, or operation and maintenance of a project, pursuant to the authority of this subchapter, the Secretary is authorized to utilize (1) in such manner as the President may direct, services, labor, materials, or other property, including money, supplied by the Work Projects Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Office of Indian Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, or any other Federal agency, for which the United States shall be reimbursed in such amounts as the President may fix for each project, within the limits of the water users' ability to repay costs as found by the Secretary under
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §2,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1940—Act Oct. 14, 1940, reenacted section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
Functions of Federal Works Agency transferred to General Services Administration by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, §103,
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was redesignated Department of Health and Human Services by
Drainage Facilities and Minor Construction
Contracts with repayment organizations for construction of drainage facilities and minor items in irrigation works, see
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,
Works Projects Administration and its functions transferred to Federal Works Agency by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§301, 306, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2729,
Civilian Conservation Corps and its functions consolidated with other agencies under Federal Security Agency, to be administered by Director of Corps under direction and supervision of Federal Security Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§201, 207, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2728, 2729,
Federal Security Agency was abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053,
§590z–1. Prerequisites for construction of project
(a) Investigation and report to President
No construction of a project may be undertaken pursuant to the authority of this subchapter unless and until the Secretary has made an investigation thereof and has submitted to the President his report and findings on—
(i) the engineering feasibility of the proposed construction;
(ii) the estimated cost of the proposed construction;
(iii) the part of the estimated cost which properly can be allocated to irrigation;
(iv) the part of the estimated cost which probably can be repaid by the water users in accordance with the requirements of
(v) the part of the estimated cost which can properly be allocated to municipal or miscellaneous water supplies or power and probably be returned to the United States in revenues therefrom;
(vi) the part of the estimated cost which can properly be allocated to the irrigation of Indian trust and tribal lands, and be repayable in accordance with existing law relating to Indian lands;
(vii) the part of the estimated cost which can properly be allocated to flood control as recommended by the Secretary after consultation with the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army.
In connection with each such investigation, report, and finding, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture regarding participation in the proposed project by the Department of Agriculture under the authority of
(b) Construction of physical features
No actual construction of the physical features of a project shall be undertaken unless and until (1) the Secretary has found that lands, or interests in lands, deemed necessary for the construction and operation of the major features of the projects have been secured, or sufficient progress made in their procurement to indicate the probability that all these lands or interests in lands can be secured, with titles and at prices satisfactory to him; and (2) the Secretary has found (i) that water rights adequate for the purposes of the project have been acquired with titles and at prices satisfactory to him, or that such water rights have been initiated and in his judgment can be perfected in conformity with State law and any applicable interstate agreements and in a manner satisfactory to him; and (ii) that such water rights can be utilized for the purposes of the project in conformity with State law and any applicable interstate agreements and in a manner satisfactory to him.
(c) Division of project
Any part of a project hereunder may be designated as a division of the project by the Secretary if he, after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, deems this desirable for orderly and efficient construction or administration. The term "project", as used in subsection (b) and
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The head "Water Conservation Utility Projects" in the Interior Department Appropriation Act, 1940 [ch. 119] (
Amendments
1943—Subsec. (a)(vii). Act July 16, 1943, §2, inserted "Secretary after consultation with the" after "as recommended".
Subsec. (b). Act July 16, 1943, §3, amended subsec. (b) generally.
Subsec. (c). Act July 16, 1943, §4, added subsec. (c).
1940—Act Oct. 14, 1940, reenacted section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
Construction With Section 701–1 of Title 33
Section as amended and modified by act Dec. 22, 1944, ch. 665, §1(c),
Transfer of Functions
Functions of Federal Works Agency transferred to General Services Administration by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, §103,
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Works Projects Administration and its functions transferred to Federal Works Agency by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§301, 306, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2729,
§590z–2. Repayment contracts
(a) Necessity
No water for irrigation may be delivered from the works of any project constructed under the authority of this subchapter until after the repayment contract or contracts required by this section have been executed. Where practicable in the judgment of the Secretary, the repayment contract shall be with a water users' organization or organizations satisfactory in form and powers to the Secretary; and otherwise the repayment contract shall be with the individual landowners. The contract or contracts shall contain such provisions as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter and to protect the interests of the United States.
(b) "Reimbursable construction costs" defined
The term "reimbursable construction costs" as used in this subchapter means that part of the costs of investigating, constructing, and operating and maintaining the project, which are allocated by the Secretary to irrigation, and which are met by expenditures of moneys therefor appropriated under the authority of
(c) Terms
The repayment contract or contracts for a project shall, in their aggregate, provide for repayment to the United States of the total amount of the reimbursable construction costs of the project allocated to irrigation. Each such contract shall provide, among other things, that—
(1) The Secretary shall fix a development period for each project of not to exceed ten years from and including the first calendar year in which water is delivered for the lands in said project; and during the development period water shall be delivered to the lands in the project involved at a charge per acre-foot, or other charge, to be fixed by the Secretary each year and to be paid in advance of delivery of water. Such charges shall be fixed with a view of returning such amounts as in the Secretary's judgment are justified by the rate of project development, including as a minimum the return over the full development period of that part of the cost of operating and maintaining the project, during said period, allocated by the Secretary to irrigation; and collections of such charges in excess of the cost of the operation and maintenance during the development period, as thereafter determined by the Secretary, shall be credited to the reimbursable construction costs of the project in the manner determined by the Secretary.
(2) The United States shall operate and maintain the project during the development period fixed for it. After the development period, the United States shall operate and maintain the project or any part thereof as long as is deemed necessary by the Secretary, and shall be paid in advance for each year that part of the estimated cost of operating and maintaining the project for such year allocated by the Secretary to irrigation. In the event charges due the United States are not paid when due the United States may, at its election, suspend operations in whole or in part.
(3) The repayment of the reimbursable construction costs, except as to Indian lands which shall be repayable in accordance with existing law relating to Indian lands, shall be spread in not to exceed forty annual installments, of the number and amounts fixed by the Secretary; and the first annual installment under each contract shall become due and payable on the date fixed by the Secretary, in the year next following the last year of the development period fixed under subsection (c)(1): Provided, That the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to modify the provisions of special legislation pertaining to any particular project.
(4) The water users or their organization will take such measures as the Secretary deems proper to secure the adoption of proper accounting, to protect the condition of project works, and to provide for the proper use thereof, and to protect project lands against deterioration due to improper use of water. Delinquencies in any payments due to the United States shall be penalized by a penalty of not less than one-half of 1 per centum per month. No water shall be delivered to or for any land or party while either said land or the organization in which it is located or said party is in arrears in the advance payment of operation and maintenance charges or development period charges under subsection (c)(1), or in arrears for more than twelve months in the payment of an installment of the reimbursable construction costs.
(5) The Secretary shall establish the size of farm units of irrigable lands on each project in accordance with his findings of the area sufficient in size for the support of a family on the lands to be irrigated. No water may be delivered to or for more than the farm unit area of irrigable lands in the project owned by a single landowner: Provided, That this subsection shall not apply to the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise. No water shall be delivered to or for any land, in a project area, transferred or disposed of subsequent to approval of the project by the President, and within three years from the time water becomes available, unless and until it has been shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary or his duly authorized representative that the land has been transferred or disposed of at a price not exceeding the appraised value as determined by the Secretary or his duly authorized representatives, and upon proof of fraudulent representation as to the true consideration involved the Secretary is authorized to cancel the water right attaching to the land involved: Provided further, That nothing herein shall be construed to create authority to interfere with the delivery of water under prior rights.
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §4, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Herein, referred to in subsec. (c)(5), means act Aug. 11, 1939, which comprises this subchapter.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 4 of act Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717,
Amendments
1943—Subsec. (d). Act July 16, 1943, added subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Extension of Variable Payment Plan
Authority of Secretary to extend benefits of variable payment plan to organizations with which he contracts or has contracted for the repayment of construction costs allocated to irrigation on any project undertaken by the United States, including contracts under this subchapter, see section 2 of
Executive Documents
Expiration of Subsection (d)
Subsection (d) of this section, by the terms thereof, ceased to be of force and effect, except as to certain projects, six months after cessation of hostilities of World War II, which was proclaimed at 12 o'clock noon of December 31, 1946, by Proc. No. 2714, 12 F.R. 1, set out as a note preceding
§590z–3. Settlement of projects on agricultural basis
(a) Rehabilitation; stabilization of agricultural economy; maximum utilization of funds
In connection with the construction or operation and maintenance of projects undertaken pursuant to the authority of this subchapter, and in order to further in the Great Plains and arid and semiarid areas of the United States an effective rehabilitation program, stabilization of the agricultural economy and maximum utilization of funds spent for relief purposes, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, pursuant to cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior, (1) to arrange for the settlement of the projects on a sound agricultural basis, and insofar as practicable, the location thereon of persons in need; (2) to extend guidance and advice to settlers thereon in matters of farm practice, soil conservation, and efficient land use; (3) to acquire agricultural lands within the boundaries of such projects, with titles and at prices satisfactory to him; and (4) to arrange for the improvement of lands within the project boundaries, including clearing, leveling, and preparing them for distribution of irrigation water. Contracts between the United States and water users or water users' organizations for the lease or purchase of, or the improvement of, lands within such projects shall provide for annual or semiannual payments to the United States, of the number and amounts fixed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The lease, purchase, or improvement contracts for each tract of land shall provide in the aggregate for the return, in not to exceed fifty years from the date the land is first settled upon, of the costs incurred by the United States in acquiring and improving such tract of land with funds appropriated under authority of
(b) Utilization of other agencies
For the purposes of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may utilize (1) in such manner as the President may direct, services, labor, materials, or other property, including money, supplied by the Work Projects Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Office of Indian Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, or any other Federal agency to the extent that the President, upon the report and recommendations of the Secretary of Agriculture, finds that the same should be supplied in assistance of such improvement work, and for which the United States shall be reimbursed in such amounts as the President may fix for each project; and (2) such services, labor, materials, easements, or other property, including money, as may be contributed by any State or political subdivision thereof State agency, municipal corporation, or other organization, or individuals. Moneys received and accepted under (2) of this subsection shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes for which contributed in like manner as if said sums had been specifically appropriated for said purposes.
(c) Advertisement for purchases or services
Where the aggregate amount involved does not exceed $300, the provisions of
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §5, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For 1940 water conservation appropriation citation, referred to in subsec. (c), see
Codification
In subsec. (c), "
Amendments
1943—Subsec. (c). Act July 16, 1943, added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
Functions of Federal Works Agency transferred to General Services Administration by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, §103,
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare redesignated Department of Health and Human Services by
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Works Projects Administration and its functions transferred to Federal Works Agency by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§301, 306, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2729,
Civilian Conservation Corps and its functions consolidated with other agencies under Federal Security Agency, to be administered by Director of Corps under direction and supervision of Federal Security Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§201, 207, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2728, 2729,
Federal Security Agency abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053,
§590z–4. Cooperative agreements with other agencies
The Secretary, by cooperative agreements, may arrange with the Department of Agriculture or with such other Federal or State agencies, as the President may deem desirable, for cooperation in the investigations and surveys of projects proposed under the authority of this subchapter; and in connection with any such project which is undertaken the Secretary by such cooperative agreements may arrange for such cooperation in the construction or operation and maintenance of the project as he deems desirable. Any such cooperative agreement with the Department of Agriculture may provide, among other things (1) that the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into the repayment contracts, required by
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §6, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
§590z–5. Repealed. Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 751, §2, 68 Stat. 736
Section, act Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §7, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
§590z–6. Disposition of receipts from repayment contracts and project operations
All payments made to the United States under repayment contracts on account of reimbursable construction costs, including penalties collected for delinquencies in such payments, and all other receipts from project operations pursuant to
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §8, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
§590z–7. Provisions for furnishing surplus power and municipal or miscellaneous water supplies
(a) In general
In connection with any project undertaken pursuant to this subchapter, provisions, including contracts of sale, may be made for furnishing municipal or miscellaneous water supplies, or for developing and furnishing power in addition to the power requirements of irrigation: Provided, That expenditures from appropriations made directly pursuant to the authority contained in
(b) Certain leases authorized
(1) In general
Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary—
(A) may enter into leases of power privileges for electric power generation in connection with any project constructed pursuant to this subchapter; and
(B) shall have authority over any project constructed pursuant to this subchapter in addition to and alternative to any existing authority relating to a particular project.
(2) Process
In entering into a lease of power privileges under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the processes, terms, and conditions applicable to a lease under
(3) Findings not required
No findings under
(4) Rights retained by lessee
Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (5), all right, title, and interest in and to installed power facilities constructed by non-Federal entities pursuant to a lease under paragraph (1), and any direct revenues derived from that lease, shall remain with the lessee.
(5) Lease charges
Notwithstanding
(6) Effect
Nothing in this section alters or affects any agreement in effect on December 19, 2014, for the development of hydropower projects or disposition of revenues.
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §9, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, referred to in subsec. (a), is act May 20, 1936, ch. 432,
Amendments
2014—
§590z–8. Authority of Secretary of the Interior over lands, contracts, water rights, etc.
(a) Utilization of lands
In connection with any project constructed pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary shall have the same authority, with regard to the utilization of lands owned by the United States, other than lands acquired under
(b) Contracts, land acquisitions, etc.
In connection with the construction or operation and maintenance of a project undertaken pursuant to the authority of this subchapter, the Secretary shall have with respect to construction and supply contracts, and with respect to the acquisition, exchange, and disposition of lands, interest in lands, water rights, and other property and the relocation thereof, the same authority, including authority to acquire lands and interests in land and water rights with titles and at prices satisfactory to him, which he has in connection with projects under the Federal reclamation laws.
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §10, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093,
§590z–9. Powers and duties of Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture; rules and regulations
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are authorized to perform any and all Acts 1 and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying out their respective functions under this subchapter and for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this subchapter into full force and effect.
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §11, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,
§590z–10. Authorization of appropriations
To carry out the purposes of this subchapter there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated (1) for the Department of the Interior such sums as may be necessary to carry out its functions under this subchapter, and (2) for the Department of Agriculture such sums as may be necessary to carry out its functions under this subchapter.
(Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717, §12, as added Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 861,
§590z–11. Delegation of powers and duties by Secretary of the Interior
For the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the administration of the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902,
(Dec. 19, 1941, ch. 595,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093,
Act of August 11, 1939, referred to in text, is act Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717,
Codification
This section was not enacted as part of act Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 717,
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,