Fla. Stat. 298.66
Obstruction of public drainage canals, etc., prohibited; damages; penalties

(1)

A person may not willfully, or otherwise, obstruct any public canal, drain, ditch or watercourse or damage or destroy any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district.

(2)

Any person who willfully obstructs any public canal, drain, ditch, or watercourse or damages or destroys any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district shall be liable to any person injured thereby for the full amount of the injury occasioned to any land or crops or other property by reason of such misconduct and shall be liable to the district constructing the drainage work for double the cost of removing such obstruction or repairing such damage.

(3)

Any person who willfully, or otherwise, obstructs any public canal, drain, ditch, or watercourse, impedes or obstructs the flow of water therein, or damages or destroys any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Source: Section 298.66 — Obstruction of public drainage canals, etc., prohibited; damages; penalties, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0298.­66 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

298.001
Districts designated as “water control” districts 298.01
Formation of water control district 298.005
Definitions 298.11
Landowners’ meetings 298.12
Annual election of supervisors 298.13
Supervisor’s oath of office 298.14
Organization of board 298.15
Record of proceedings 298.16
Appointment of district engineer 298.17
Appointment and duties of treasurer of district 298.18
Supervisors to employ attorney for district 298.19
Appointment and duties of superintendent of plant and operations and overseers 298.20
Supervisors to fix compensation for work and employees 298.21
Supervisors may remove officers and employees 298.22
Powers of supervisors 298.23
Supervisors authorized to take land for rights-of-way, etc. 298.24
Bridge construction 298.25
Type of bridges over drains in large counties 298.26
District engineer to make annual reports to supervisors 298.28
Watercourses to be connected with drainage of district 298.36
Lands belonging to state assessed 298.41
Taxes and costs a lien on land against which taxes levied 298.47
Supervisors may issue bonds 298.48
Sale of bonds and disposition of proceeds 298.49
Interest upon matured bonds 298.50
Levy of tax to pay bonds, sinking fund 298.51
Defaults, receivership for district 298.52
Refunding and extending bonds 298.54
Maintenance tax 298.56
Bonds issued secured by lien on lands benefited 298.57
Landowner in district may construct drains across land of intervening landowner 298.59
Supervisors authorized to obtain consent of United States 298.60
Unpaid warrants issued by district to draw interest 298.61
Sureties on bonds 298.62
Lands may be acquired for rights-of-way and other purposes 298.63
Bonds to secure loans from Secretary of Interior 298.66
Obstruction of public drainage canals, etc., prohibited 298.70
Department of Environmental Protection authorized to borrow money 298.71
Department may issue notes 298.72
Department may use proceeds of drainage tax to pay loans 298.73
Matured written obligations receivable in payment of taxes 298.74
Drainage of lakes 298.76
Special or local legislation 298.77
Readjustment of assessments 298.78
Lien 298.225
Water control plan 298.301
District water control plan adoption 298.305
Assessing land for development 298.329
When works insufficient, supervisors have power to make a new or amended plan 298.333
Assessments and costs 298.341
When unpaid assessments delinquent 298.345
Enforcement of non-ad valorem assessments 298.349
Uniform initial acreage assessment for payment of expenses 298.353
Unit development 298.365
Collection of annual installment tax 298.366
Delinquent taxes 298.401
Property appraisers and tax collectors 298.465
District taxes

Current through Fall 2025

§ 298.66. Obstruction of public drainage canals, etc., prohibited; damages; penalties's source at flsenate​.gov