Any municipality, corporation, person or individual desiring to construct a bridge, dam or other obstruction for either public or private purposes, or to repair or maintain a bridge, dam or other obstruction already constructed, over any of the navigable rivers of the state, shall prepare plans and specifications, together with the data upon which they are based, and shall, when such bridge or dam forms part of a public highway, submit the plans, specifications and data to the secretary of transportation for the secretary’s inspection and approval. When the plans and specifications are approved by the secretary, the municipality, corporation, person or individual is authorized and empowered to construct, repair and maintain said bridge or bridges, dam or dams, or other obstructions according to the plans and specifications approved by the secretary of transportation and under the direction and supervision of the secretary. No plans for the construction of any such dam shall be approved, and no such dam shall be constructed unless it contains flood gates or openings that can be opened in times of high water, so as to prevent the overflow of lands in the vicinity of the dam.