Nebraska § 46-254 Interfering with waterworks; taking water without authority; penalty

Nebraska Statutes

§ 46-254 — Interfering with waterworks; taking water without authority; penalty

Nebraska § 46-254

Ch. 46Irrigation and Regulation of Water

This text of Nebraska § 46-254 (Interfering with waterworks; taking water without authority; penalty) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-254 (2026).

Text

Any person owning or in control of any ditch, reservoir, or other device for appropriating or using water who willfully opens, closes, changes, or interferes with any headgate or controlling gate, or by any method or means takes any water from any natural stream, reservoir, or other source, through any ditch or canal to any land or lands, or allows the same to be done, or uses or allows to be used any water upon any land or lands, or for any other purpose whatsoever, without authority from the Chief Water Officer, or who stores water in or releases water from a reservoir other than in compliance with orders of the Chief Water Officer, shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor. Each day that the water is allowed to run without authority from the Chief Water Officer shall constitute a separa

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Any person owning or in control of any ditch, reservoir, or other device for appropriating or using water who willfully opens, closes, changes, or interferes with any headgate or controlling gate, or by any method or means takes any water from any natural stream, reservoir, or other source, through any ditch or canal to any land or lands, or allows the same to be done, or uses or allows to be used any water upon any land or lands, or for any other purpose whatsoever, without authority from the Chief Water Officer, or who stores water in or releases water from a reservoir other than in compliance with orders of the Chief Water Officer, shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor. Each day that the water is allowed to run without authority from the Chief Water Officer shall constitute a separate offense.

Legislative History

Source: Laws 1919, c. 190, tit. VII, art. V, div. 3, § 10, p. 849; C.S.1922, § 8460; C.S.1929, § 46-610; R.S.1943, § 46-254; Laws 1973, LB 186, § 9; Laws 1977, LB 40, § 257; Laws 2000, LB 900, § 119; Laws 2025, LB317, § 101. Operative Date: July 1, 2025 Cross References: Drover of livestock, duty to prevent damages, see section 54-305.