TITLE 42

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE — WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION

CHAPTER 9

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER TO CONSUMERS

42-910.  Duties of manager of distributing lateral — Assessment of repair and maintenance costs — Appeals. Such person shall be known as the manager of such distributing lateral for the season for which he is selected, and in addition to the powers granted to him by section 42-907[, Idaho Code,] he shall have power to require of each user of such lateral such user’s proportion of the amount of labor, material or money reasonably necessary for the proper repair and maintenance of such lateral, and to require measuring weirs, head-gates and checks to be installed for distributing the water among the users, and each user of such lateral shall furnish his proportion of such labor, material or money upon three (3) days’ notice so to do, and, in default of so doing, such manager may employ other labor in his place, or furnish the material or money necessary, and such user shall pay to the manager the reasonable value of such material or labor so furnished by the manager, upon demand, in case of default in payment by such user the said manager may sue and collect the same in any court of competent jurisdiction, and in addition to all costs, the court shall allow said manager his reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in that behalf.

In the event such water user or water users shall not furnish his or their respective share of such labor, material or money within three (3) days after notice so to do, as hereinabove provided, then said manager may, if he elects, notify the association or corporation delivering water into said distributing lateral of the failure, neglect or refusal of said water users or any of them to furnish his or their respective share of such labor, material or money for the proper repair and maintenance of such lateral or for the furnishing and installation of measuring weirs, head-gates and checks, and upon receipt of such notice said association or corporation may, if it chooses to do so, proceed to furnish all labor, material and money necessary for the proper repair and maintenance of such lateral and for the furnishing and installation of measuring weirs, head-gates and checks, or it may, if it chooses so to do, proceed to repair and maintain said laterals and furnish and install such measuring weirs, head-gates and checks as it shall deem necessary or proper for the distribution of water among the several water users. The cost of such repair and maintenance and the cost of furnishing and installing such measuring devices, head-gates, and checks shall be apportioned among the several water users on the basis of benefits derived therefrom by said water users, and the said association or corporation furnishing said funds or doing the aforesaid things or any of them shall within thirty days after completion thereof give each of such water users written notice of the amount or amounts to be paid by him and demand payment thereof. Should the water users or any of them desire to contest the assessment and apportionment made by such association or corporation, appeal may be taken from such assessment and apportionment to the district court in the county where the principal office of said association or corporation is located within ten (10) days after receipt of said notice and demand for payment, in the same manner as in the case of appeals from the boards of county commissioners. In case of appeal any sum or sums determined by said district court to be due, or in the event no appeal is taken then any sum or sums determined by such association or corporation to be due from any water users, shall be paid by such water user within ninety (90) days and the said association or corporation may refuse to deliver any water to any such water user until the amount due shall have been paid in full.

History:

[(42-910) 1909, p. 108, sec. 2; reen. C.L., sec. 3288d; C.S., sec. 5634; I.C.A., sec. 41-810; am. 1939, ch. 213, sec. 1, p. 435.]