No person may obstruct the free navigation of any navigable watercourse within this state. No person, except under lawful authority to do so, may intentionally obstruct, tamper with, or interfere with the stage, level, or flow of the public waters of this state by any means, including a ditch, drain, or dike, so that the stage, level, or flow of water in any lake, stream, river, or other public watercourse is raised or lowered or its natural flow interfered with in any way. At the request of any person, unit of local government, or political subdivision of the state, any contest pertaining to the restrictions set forth in this section may be brought to the Water Management Board for resolution. The board may require the parties to any contested case under this section to submit the matter for mediation prior to a hearing before the board. Mediation may be informal or through a trained professional mediator as may be directed by the board. All costs of mediation shall be equally shared by the parties unless the parties agree to some other apportionment of costs. The parties shall report to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting the status of the mediation. If the parties are unable to resolve the matter through mediation, the matter shall be submitted to the board for resolution by contested case hearing. The board’s ruling may be appealed to the circuit court under the provisions of chapter 1-26.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Source: SDC 1939, § 13.1615; SL 1955, ch 435; SDC Supp 1960, § 13.4522; SDCL, §§ 46-26-1, 46-26-2; SL 1983, ch 314, § 38; SL 1996, ch 264.