---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 499"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "499"
heading: "Discretionary power to transfer management"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/499"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter XI — Maintenance and Operation of Works Generally"
---

# §499. Discretionary power to transfer management


Whenever any legally organized water-users’ [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2) or irrigation district shall so request, the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to transfer to such water-users’ [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2) or irrigation district the care, operation, and maintenance of all or any part of the [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) works, subject to such rules and regulations as he may prescribe.


## Source credit

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

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of part of first sentence of section 5 of act Aug. 13, 1914. Remainder of first sentence and second sentence of such section 5 are classified to section 492 of this title.