In order to effect the drainage of said district the board is authorized to clean out and remove all obstructions from the bed of any stream, creek, bayou, or any other watercourse in said district, to straighten or shorten and deepen or widen the course in said district, to straighten the bed of any stream and construct a new channel therefor, and to fill up any channel, or part of a channel of any stream, creek, bayou, or other watercourse in order to turn the direction of the volume of water or to concentrate the water so as to deepen and form a new main channel.

The said board shall have the power to construct the said works across any street, avenue, highway, railway, ditch or flume which the route of said ditches may intersect or cross, in such a manner as to afford security for life and property but the said board shall restore the same, when so crossed or intersected, to its former state as near as may be, or in a sufficient manner not to have impaired unnecessarily its usefulness; and every company whose railroad shall be intersected and crossed by said works shall unite with said board in forming said intersections and crossings and shall grant the privilege aforesaid; and if such railroad company and said board, or the owners and controllers of said property, thing or franchise so to be crossed, cannot agree upon the amount to be paid therefor, or the points or the manner of said crossings, the same shall be ascertained and determined in all respects as is provided in respect to the taking of land. The right of way is hereby given, dedicated and set apart, to locate, construct and maintain said works over and through any of the lands which are now, or may be property of the state.