Drainage districts may hereafter be organized in this state under the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of reclaiming wet, swamp, or overflowed lands for agricultural and sanitary purposes conducive to public health in the manner hereinafter provided and, when so organized, shall consist of a system of artificial main drains, lateral drains or ditches, natural drains and water courses, or levees. To the end that the purposes of the organization of such districts according to this system may be attained, they shall have and are given full power and authority to construct or to cause to be constructed such artificial main drains and ditches, lateral drains and ditches, and tile drains over the lands of others or over or on lands which may be acquired by said district, and to alter, deepen, or improve any and all natural drains and water courses as it may be necessary to alter, deepen, or improve so that a complete system of such drains may exist in the district for agricultural and sanitary purposes. Such districts may also, in addition to the construction of such drains, construct or erect over the land of others, or over the lands to be acquired by the drainage district or commission for that purpose, such levees as may be necessary to protect or reclaim any lands from overflow from any source.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control
Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners
§ 51-31-1. Powers of drainage districts
§ 51-31-5. General authority of drainage districts
§ 51-31-7. Exercise of authority
§ 51-31-9. Selection of county drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-11. Oath and bond of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-13. Compensation of commissioners
§ 51-31-17. Secretary and treasurer of drainage districts
§ 51-31-19. Employment of counsel
§ 51-31-21. Creation of drainage districts on petition
§ 51-31-23. Jurisdiction of organization
§ 51-31-25. Notice of petition
§ 51-31-29. Hearing of petitions
§ 51-31-31. Landowners may sign petition at hearing
§ 51-31-33. Commissioners to estimate cost
§ 51-31-35. Proceedings on report of commissioners
§ 51-31-37. Disposition of report
§ 51-31-39. Form of court's order
§ 51-31-41. District declared organized
§ 51-31-43. Preliminary expenses
§ 51-31-47. Notice of assessments
§ 51-31-49. Hearing objections
§ 51-31-51. Assessments confirmed
§ 51-31-53. Payment of assessments
§ 51-31-55. Right of way agreements
§ 51-31-57. Notice of appraisement by commissioners
§ 51-31-59. Appraisement hearing
§ 51-31-61. Levy to provide estimated funds
§ 51-31-63. Tax levied to meet assessment
§ 51-31-65. Levy each year to meet bond obligations
§ 51-31-67. Reassessments in case of underestimates
§ 51-31-69. Sale of district bonds
§ 51-31-71. Contracts let to lowest bidder
§ 51-31-73. Commissioners to construct and maintain drains
§ 51-31-75. Lateral ditches to be laid out
§ 51-31-77. Actual damages recoverable
§ 51-31-79. Jurisdiction of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-83. Commissioners may go on lands
§ 51-31-85. Ditches already constructed may be used
§ 51-31-87. Compensation for use of other district drains
§ 51-31-89. Passing railroads with canal
§ 51-31-91. Notice and damages
§ 51-31-93. Railroad may be assessed for benefits
§ 51-31-95. Drain may cross public road
§ 51-31-97. Landowners outside of district may use drains
§ 51-31-99. Reassessment if estimate deficient
§ 51-31-101. Penalty for injuring drains
§ 51-31-103. Benefit to county farm
§ 51-31-105. Jurisdiction of suits
§ 51-31-107. Master may hear and determine causes; report of findings to chancellor
§ 51-31-109. Expenses of chancellor and master taxed against district
§ 51-31-111. Additional bond issue
§ 51-31-113. Interest rate of additional bonds
§ 51-31-115. Notice of issue to be published
§ 51-31-117. Proceedings in rem
§ 51-31-119. Subdrainage districts authorized
§ 51-31-121. Notice of subdistrict proceedings
§ 51-31-123. Creation of subdistrict
§ 51-31-125. Subdistricts managed by drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-127. Separate financial account kept for subdrainage district
§ 51-31-129. Collection of taxes
§ 51-31-135. Record of tax sales
§ 51-31-137. Expiration of redemption period
§ 51-31-139. District placed under supervisors
§ 51-31-141. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter