Texas Water Code - WATER § 56.140. Public and Private Improvements

(a) Canals, drains, ditches, and levees which are constructed by a district and watercourses which are cleaned or constructed by a district are the public property of the district.

(b) A person who owns land in the district may drain into one or more of the public drains, and at his own expense, the landowner may make drains according to the natural slope of the land through other lands intervening between his land and the nearest public drain or watercourse or along any public highway.

(c) Before constructing any drains, the landowner shall notify the board of his intention to construct a drain through another person's land or along a public highway, and the directors shall go on the premises and acting as a jury of view shall determine the place for constructing the drain.