Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 38, § 1482. Improvement of canals for navigation purposes

Where any canals within a drainage district are suitable for the purpose of navigation, or by any additional works and expenditures may be made suitable to the purposes of navigation, the commissioners of the drainage district may enter into contracts with the commissioners of any navigation district, municipalities, corporations, or private individuals for the purpose of improving or maintaining of the canals. They may make rules and regulations for the use of the canals and impose any tolls they may deem proper for the maintenance of the canals. No part of the acreage or millage taxes which may have been imposed for the purpose of paying for the cutting of canals or for the retirement of the principal and interest on any bonds, or for the maintenance of drainage canals shall be used for the purpose of making the canals navigable. All additional revenues which may be derived from any contract under which the canals have been extended, widened, or deepened for the purpose of navigation, or any moneys received from tolls may be used not only for the purpose of maintaining the canals as navigable canals but for the betterment of the drainage system.

The commissioners of the drainage districts may construct along the banks of the canals, or contract in the same manner as provided in this Section with other parties to construct along and over the canal bank roads, trams, or other means of transportation which will enable the freer use of the canals and also furnish better means of transportation in the territories contiguous to the canals.

The drainage districts may resort to expropriation proceedings in the same manner and under the same conditions as they are now authorized to do for acquisition of the land necessary for the cutting of the canals as well as the land contiguous thereto necessary as banks of the canals.