46A-13-10. Petition for improvement of interstate drainage project--Filing with commission, Contents--Jurisdiction--Joint survey--Appointment of engineers. At least twenty-five South Dakota resident owners of not less than ten acres of land each within an interstate drainage district formed pursuant to this chapter, or the governing body of any county or municipality located within the district that is likely to be affected by a proposed improvement, may file a petition with the district commission setting forth the necessity for an improvement to be constructed by joint arrangement and cooperation with the authorities of another state. The petition shall include a general description of the proposed improvement. If the proposed improvement involves a ditch or watercourse, the petition shall describe the starting point, the general route, and terminus, together with a description of the territory likely to be affected. If the improvement involves the raising, lowering, or impounding of water in any body of water or stream, the petition shall include a description of the body of water or watercourse and the proposed changes to be made, and shall state the purpose for the changes and a description of the land likely to be affected by the changes. The petition shall request the construction of any of the drainage or flood control improvements referred to in this chapter.

The district commission has jurisdiction over all matters referred to in the petition in the counties named within the limits of the district. In addition, the commission may make joint contracts or agreements with the court, tribunal, or other body in the adjoining state, having authority relative to drainage and control of flood waters, for the appointment of one or more engineers to secure a joint survey of the territory affected by the proposed improvement. The joint survey shall be for purposes of considering the adoption of a joint plan for cooperation in supplying the necessary drainage of lands affected by the improvement, and impounding and controlling flood waters in and the outlet from the affected lands. In selecting the engineers, preference shall be given to state engineers or engineers in charge of state drainage in the respective states.

For purposes of this section, status as a resident owner of land within an interstate drainage district is as shown by the records in the offices of the register of deeds and the clerk of courts of the county in which the land is situated. If the land is sold under contract for deed, which is of record in the office of the register of deeds of the county, both the landowner and the individual purchaser of the land, as named in the contract for deed, shall be treated as owners.

Source: SDC 1939, § 61.1105; SL 1964, ch 222, § 2; SDCL § 46-23-10; SL 2011, ch 165, § 509.