The board may construct irrigation works across any stream of water, watercourse, street, avenue, highway, railway, canal, ditch, flume, pipeline, or other transportation system or utility, which the route of any canal may intersect or cross in such manner as to afford security for life and property, but the board shall restore the same, when so crossed or intersected, to its former state as near as may be, or in a manner sufficient to avoid unnecessary impairment of its usefulness. Every company whose railroad or utility shall be intersected or crossed by such works shall unite with the board in forming such intersections and crossings, and shall grant the privilege aforesaid. If the board cannot agree with such railroad company, or with the owners and controllers of the property, thing, or franchise to be crossed, upon the amount to be paid on account of such crossing or the point at which or the manner in which the crossing shall be made, the same shall be ascertained and determined in all respects as is provided for the taking of land. The right of way is given, dedicated, and set apart, to locate, construct, and maintain such works over and through any of the lands which are or may be the property of the state. There are given, dedicated, and set apart, for the uses and purposes provided in this chapter, all water and water rights owned by this state within the district.
N.D.C.C. § 61-07-04