---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 477"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "477"
heading: "Association or irrigation district as fiscal agent of Government"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/477"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter IX — Construction Charges"
---

# §477. Association or irrigation district as fiscal agent of Government


The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to designate and appoint, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, the legally organized water-users’ [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2) or irrigation district, under any [reclamation project](/usc/43/373c.md?p=2), as the fiscal agent of the United States to collect the annual payments on the construction charge of the project and the annual charges for operation and maintenance and all penalties: Provided, That no water-right applicant or entryman shall be entitled to credit for any payment thus made until the same shall have been paid over to an officer designated by the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior to receive the same.


## Source credit

(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, § 7, 38 Stat. 688.)