43 USC § 561 - Survey and subdivision of land for town sites; reservation for public purposes

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t43/s561"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "43 USC § 561 - Survey and subdivision of land for town sites; reservation for public purposes"
title_number: 43
title_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
section_number: "561"
section_name: "Survey and subdivision of land for town sites; reservation for public purposes"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT"
subchapter_number: "XV"
subchapter_name: "TOWN SITES, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SCHOOL SITES"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Apr. 16, 1906, ch. 1631, § 1, 34 Stat. 116; June 27, 1906, ch. 3559, § 4, 34 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2792.)"
---


# § 561. Survey and subdivision of land for town sites; reservation for public purposes

*Provided*

The Secretary of the Interior may in connection with irrigation projects under the reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in each case, survey and subdivide the same into town lots, with appropriate reservations for public purposes: , That, whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, it shall be advisable for the public interest, he may dispose of town sites in excess of one hundred and sixty acres.

---

**Source Credit**: (Apr. 16, 1906, ch. 1631, § 1, 34 Stat. 116; June 27, 1906, ch. 3559, § 4, 34 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2792.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, referred to in text, is , , popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

### Codification

Introductory provisions are from the first section of act . The proviso is from part of the proviso of section 4 of act . Another part of the proviso of section 4 of act , is classified to . The remainder of section 4 of act , was classified to former .

### Amendments

1976— struck out provisions authorizing withdrawal from public entry any lands needed for town-site purposes.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

, , , provided that the amendment made by section 704(a) is effective on and after .

### Savings Provision

Amendment by  not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on , see , set out as a note under .