Watercourses to be connected with drainage of district; connecting drains after completion of plan of drainage.

F.S. 298.28

in effect

At the time of the construction, in any district incorporated under this chapter, of the water control plan, all canals, ditches or systems of drainage already constructed in said district and all watercourses shall, if necessary to the drainage of any lands in said district, be connected with and made a part of the works and improvements of the plan of drainage of said district, but no canals, ditches, drains, or systems of drainage constructed in said district, after the completion of the aforesaid plan of drainage of said district, shall be connected therewith, unless the consent of the board of supervisors shall be first had and obtained; which consent shall be in writing and shall particularly describe the method, terms and conditions of such connection, and shall be approved by the chief engineer. Said connection, if made, shall be in strict accord with the method, terms, and conditions laid down in said consent. If the landowners wishing to make such connection are refused by the board of supervisors, or decline to accept the consent granted, the said landowners may file a petition for such connection in the circuit court having jurisdiction in said district, and the matter in dispute shall in a summary manner be decided by said court, which decision shall be final and binding on the district and landowners. No connection with the works or improvements of said plan of drainage of said district, or with any canal, ditch, drain or artificial drainage, wholly within said district, shall be made, caused or affected by any landowners, company or corporation, municipal or private, by means of, or with, any ditch, drain, cut, fill, roadbed, levee, embankment or artificial drainage, wholly without the limits of said district, unless such connection is consented to by the board of supervisors, or in the manner provided for in this chapter.

Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter298/AllFetched: 7/8/2026