43 U.S.C. § 499

Discretionary power to transfer management

Whenever any legally organized water-users’ association or irrigation district shall so request, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to transfer to such water-users’ association or irrigation district the care, operation, and maintenance of all or any part of the project works, subject to such rules and regulations as he may prescribe.

( Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, § 5 , 38 Stat. 687 .)