---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 983"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "983"
heading: "Lists and plats of lands, for governors of States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/983"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Grants of Swamp and Overflowed Lands"
---

# §983. Lists and plats of lands, for governors of States


It shall be the duty of the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior, to make accurate lists and plats of all such lands, and transmit the same to the governors of the several [States](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) in which such lands may lie, and at the request of the governor of any [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) in which said swamp and overflowed lands may be, to cause patents to be issued to said [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) therefor, conveying to said [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) the fee simple of said land.

The proceeds of said lands, whether from sale or by direct appropriation in kind, shall be applied exclusively, as far as necessary, to the reclaiming said lands, by means of levees and drains.


## Source credit

(R.S. § 2480.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 2480 derived from act Sept. 28, 1850, ch. 84, § 2, 9 Stat. 519.