La. Stat. tit. 38 § 1638
In order to effect the drainage, protection and reclamation of the land and other property in the district subject to tax, the board of commissioners may clean out, straighten, widen, change the course and flow, alter or deepen any ditch, drain, watercourse, pond, lake, creek, bayou or natural stream in or out of the district, fill up any creek, drain, channel, watercourse or natural stream, and concentrate, divert or divide the flow of water in or out of the district. In so doing, the drainage district shall make adequate provision for the drainage of all lands and property affected thereby. The board may construct and maintain main and lateral ditches, canals, levees, dikes, dams, sluices, revetments, reservoirs, holding basins, floodways, pumping stations and syphons and any other works and improvements deemed necessary to preserve and maintain the works in or out of the district. They shall construct or enlarge or cause to be constructed or enlarged any and all bridges that may be needed in or out of the district across any drain, ditch, canal, floodway, holding basin, excavation, public highway, railroad right of way, track, grade, fill or cut, construct roadways over levees and embankments, construct any and all of the works and improvements across, through or over any public highway, railroad right of way, track, grade, fill or cut in or out of the district, remove any fence, building, or other improvements in or out of the district, and hold, control, and acquire by donation or purchase, and if need be, expropriate any land, servitude, railroad right of way, sluice, reservoir, holding basin or franchise in or out of the district for right of way, or holding basin for any of the purposes herein provided.
La. R.S. § 38:1638