ACTS OF CONGRESS 35} 



WATER RIGHTS. SECS. 616-618 



economical irrigation. (Act June 27, '06; 34 Stat. L., p. 519; Fed. Stat, 

 Ann., '09 Supp., p. 543; Comp. Stats., '11 Supp., p. 670.) 



Cited: 229 U. S. 187 (33 S. C. R. 645); 196 Fed. 569; 199 Fed. 865; 

 179 Fed. 1. 



SEC. 616. SECRETARY MAY RECONSIDER ACTS. 



The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, withdraw any 

 public notice heretofore issued under section 614, and he may agree to 

 such modification of water right applications heretofore duly filed or con- 

 tracts with water users' associations and others, entered into prior 

 to the passage of this section, as he may deem advisable, or he may 

 consent to the abrogation of such water right applications and con- 

 tracts, and proceed in all respects as if such notice had not been given. 

 (Act Feb. 13, '11; 36 Stat. L., p. 902; Fed. Stat. Ann., '12 Supp., p. 417; 

 Comp. Stat., '11 Supp., p. 681.) 



Cited : 229 U. S. 187 (33 S. C. R. 645) ; 176 Fed. 949 ; 196 Fed. 569 ; 199 

 Fed. 865. 



SEC. 617. PURCHASE OF WATER RIGHT. 



No right to the use of water for land in private ownership shall be 

 sold for a tract exceeding one hundred and sixty acres to any one 

 land owner, and no such sale shall be made to any land owner unless 

 he be an actual bona fide resident on such land, or occupant thereof 

 residing in the neighborhood of said land, and no such right shall 

 permanently attach until all payments therefor are made. The annual 

 installments shall be paid to the receiver of the local land office of 

 the district in which the land is situated, and a failure to make any 

 two payments when due shall render the entry subject to cancellation, 

 with' the forfeiture of all rights under this chapter, as well as of any 

 moneys already paid thereon. All moneys received from the above 

 sources shall be paid into the reclamation fund. (Act June 17, '02; 32 

 Stat. L., p. 389, sec. 5; 7 Fed. Stat. Ann., p. 1100; Comp. Stat, '03 

 Supp., p. 220.) 



For further provisions as to entrymen upon government lands under irrigation 

 projects, see act Aug. 9, '12, (37 Stat. L., p. 265). 



Cited : 229 U. S. 187 (33 S. C. R. 645) ; 179 Fed. 1 ; 199 Fed. 865 ; 196 

 Fed. 569; 37 Land Dec. 11, 46, 426. 



SEC. 618. WORKS MANAGED BY USERS. 



The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to 

 use the reclamation fund for the operation and maintenance of all 

 reservoirs and irrigation works constructed under the provisions of 

 this chapter: Provided, That when the payments required by this 

 chapter are made for the major portion of the lands irrigated from 

 the waters of any of the works herein provided for, then the manage- 

 ment 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 



