---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 381"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "381"
heading: "Irrigation lands; regulation of use of water"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/381"
units:
  - "Chapter 11 — Irrigation of Allotted Lands"
---

# §381. Irrigation lands; regulation of use of water


In cases where the use of water for irrigation is necessary to render the lands within any Indian reservation available for agricultural purposes, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary to secure a just and equal distribution thereof among the Indians residing upon any such reservations; and no other appropriation or grant of water by any riparian proprietor shall be authorized or permitted to the damage of any other riparian proprietor.


## Source credit

(Feb. 8, 1887, ch. 119, § 7, 24 Stat. 390.)