Montana § 85-7-2107 - Procedure For The Determination Of Irrigable Area

§ 85-7-2107. Procedure For The Determination Of Irrigable Area

Procedure for the determination of irrigable area. (1) For the purpose of determining the number of acres of irrigable lands in each 40-acre tract or fractional lot as designated by United States government survey or platted lot, if land is subdivided in lots and blocks (or whenever land is owned in less than 40-acre tracts or in less than the platted lot, in each tract) of land in the district or subdistrict, the board of commissioners of any irrigation district established under part 1, whenever considered advisable and at any time except as otherwise provided, may cause a careful topographical survey and map of the lands to be made, as well as a specific examination of the character of the soil of each tract. Upon completion of the survey and maps and examination, the board shall give notice that at a meeting of the board, to be held at the office of the board on a day to be fixed in the notice, the board will determine the irrigable area of each tract of land in the district or subdistrict and that it will hear and consider any objection on the part of any landowner in the district, or in a subdistrict if only the irrigable area of the subdistrict is being determined, to the determination and to adjustment of the irrigable area of the district or subdistrict or of any lands within any tract or subdivision of the district or subdistrict. It is not necessary to describe the tracts in the notice. The notice must be given by publication once a week for 2 successive calendar weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the office of the board is located, and whenever lands of any irrigation district or subdistrict lie in more than one county, the notice must also be published in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in each county. The last publication of the notice must be at least 5 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. (2) At the meeting, the board shall determine and fix the number of acres in each tract or subdivision irrigable from the works or proposed works of the district or subdistrict and shall hear all persons interested who may appear and shall continue in session from day to day (exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays) as long as may be necessary and until the determination of irrigable area is completed. The board shall hear and receive all evidence offered, including maps and surveys caused to be prepared by it as well as maps and surveys prepared by any owner of lands. Upon determination, the irrigable area fixed is the acreage upon which any special tax or assessment must be levied, and each irrigable acre shall pay at the same rate as every other acre of irrigable land in the district or subdistrict, except as otherwise provided by law.