33 U.S.C. § 500 : US Code - Section 500: Deflection of current; liability to riparian owners

Search 33 U.S.C. § 500 : US Code - Section 500: Deflection of current; liability to riparian owners

Whenever complaint shall be made to the Secretary of the Army
that by reason of the placing in any navigable waters of the United
States of any bridge pier or abutment, the current of such waters
has been so deflected from its natural course as to cause by
producing caving of banks or otherwise serious damage or danger to
property, it shall be his duty to make inquiry, and if it shall be
ascertained that the complaint is well founded, he shall cause the
owners or persons operating such bridge to repair such damage or
prevent such danger to property by such means as he shall indicate
and within such time as he may name, and in default thereof the
owners or persons operating such bridge shall be liable in any
court of competent jurisdiction to the persons injured in a sum
double the amount of said injury: Provided, however, That nothing
herein contained shall be construed so as to affect any rights of
action which may have existed prior to August 11, 1888.