The board of directors shall have the power to construct the said works across any stream of water, watercourse, street, avenue, highway, railway, canal, ditch or flume which the route of said canal or canals may intersect or cross; and if said board and the owners or controllers of the property so to be crossed cannot agree on the amount to be paid therefor, or as to the points or the manner of said crossings, the same shall be ascertained and determined in all respects as is provided by law in respect to the taking of land for public uses. The right-of-way is hereby granted to locate, construct and maintain said works or reservoirs, over, through or upon any of the lands which are now, or may be the property of the state.