La. Stat. tit. 38 § 1640
The board of commissioners of drainage districts may not enter upon or take possession of any land or property expropriated for rights of way, canals, levees, holding basins, pumping plant sites, or other works of the districts, until the prices awarded to the owners of the land or property shall have been paid to the owners or into the hands of the clerk of the court condemning the property for the use of the owners. If the sums awarded are not paid within five years from the date of the judgment of expropriation, the judgment shall be without further force or effect. Whenever any land is acquired by any district under the provisions of this Part and the price of the property has been paid the owner by the district, the title, use, possession and enjoyment of the property shall pass from the owner and be vested in the district, and subject to its use, profit, employment and final disposition. The price awarded for all lands acquired by any district for rights of way, canals, levees, holding basins, pumping plant sites, or other works, and the amount of damages assessed by the board of appraisers and confirmed by the court to any tract or parcel of land or other property in the district, shall be paid in cash to the owner or to the clerk of the court for the use of the owner, and that portion of any tract or parcel of land or other property not taken for use of the district shall be assessed for the benefits accruing in accordance with the provisions of previous sections of this Part.
La. R.S. § 38:1640