2015 Arkansas Code
Title 14 - Local Government
Subtitle 7 - Water And Soil Improvement Districts
Chapter 120 - Drainage And Levee Improvement Districts Generally
Subchapter 3 - Consolidation of District Duties, Obligations, and Purposes
§ 14-120-306 - Powers of board of directors.

(a) In order to discharge the obligations for which the district was originally created and those which it assumed under the terms of subchapter 2 of this chapter and acts amendatory thereto, the board of directors of any levee district, or drainage district, or levee and drainage district is authorized and empowered:

(1) To enter upon, take, and hold any lands, or interests or servitudes therein, whether by purchase, grant, donation, devise, or otherwise that may be deemed necessary and proper for the location, construction, operation, repair, or maintenance of any levee, levee foundation, channel rectification, floodway, reservoir, spillway, diversion, drainage canal, or other flood control or drainage works contemplated to be constructed and thereafter to be perpetually operated and maintained by the district; and

(2) To take, hold, and acquire flowage and storage rights and servitudes upon, over, and across any land which may be necessary and incident to the construction, operation, repair, and maintenance of any necessary levee, levee foundation, channel rectification, floodway, reservoir, spillway, diversion, drainage canal, or other flood control or drainage works.

(b) In order that the rights, easements, and servitudes conferred may be acquired, the board of directors of the district is given authority and power to condemn lands or interests therein for such purposes and the authority and power to exercise rights of eminent domain. Condemnation proceedings therefor shall be instituted and conducted in the manner as is now provided in §§ 18-15-1001 -- 18-15-1010 and provided further damages shall be paid for any easement or flowage right or increased use or servitude on any lands by reason of increasing the amount or depth of water on those lands regardless of whether the lands are protected or unprotected by levees, and those damages shall be in addition to damages set out in §§ 18-15-1001 -- 18-15-1010. Any action for taking of property or damaging property as provided in this subchapter or in §§ 18-15-1001 -- 18-15-1010 shall be commenced within five (5) years from the time the cause of action accrues.