N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 15-1947: Unlawful interference with drainage works

§ 15-1947. Unlawful interference with drainage works.

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to divert water from its

natural watershed in such manner that it flows into a drainage district,

or so to divert water in a drainage district as to prevent it from

following the course laid out for such water by the department and cause

it to flow into any stream, ditch or ditches into which it does not

naturally or was not designed to flow.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person without authorization to

interfere with, fill up, alter or change any drainage ditch or other

structure constructed under the provisions of title 19 of this article

or lawfully constructed under the provisions of the conservation or the

drainage laws or any other general or special statutes, or without

authorization to open or close gates or other regulating works in

connection therewith or to construct unauthorized ditches or drains or

other interference. This shall not be held to prevent the private

construction of drainage works within a district, provided that such

construction is done in accordance with plans approved by the department

and with its written consent.

3. It shall be unlawful to build or maintain across or in such

drainage ditch any bridge or culvert which unduly impedes the flow of

water in such ditch. No bridge or culvert across or in any drainage

channel or ditch within or without a drainage district and necessary to

the proper drainage thereof, shall hereafter be built, rebuilt or

altered by any person or authority except with the written consent and

approval of the department.