If lands assessed for drainage benefits are not contiguous to the drain, the water resource board may exercise eminent domain to acquire a right of way easement to the drain over the land of others. The right of way, when acquired, is the property of the water resource district in which the lands are located. The board may issue warrants in a sum sufficient to pay the damages assessed for the right of way. The warrants must be drawn upon the proper county treasurer or, if the water resource district treasurer is custodian of the drain funds, water resource district treasurer, and are payable out of drain funds in the hands of the treasurer which have been collected for the construction of the drain for which the right of way is sought.