36-9-105. Purchaser to pay owner appraised value of improvements; receipt.
If any state lands are sold upon which surface improvements, including irrigation works of any kind, have been made by a lessee, or for which water rights or proportionate interests in irrigation, reservoirs, canals, or systems, have been acquired, the improvements, irrigation works and water rights shall be appraised under the direction of the board. The purchaser of the lands, upon which improvements and irrigation works have been made, or for which water rights have been acquired as herein provided for, shall pay the owner of such improvements, irrigation works or water rights, as the case may be, the contributory value thereof, and take a receipt therefor, and shall deliver the receipt to the director before he shall receive a patent or certificate of purchase. All such receipts shall be filed and preserved in the office of state lands and investments. For purposes of this section, "contributory value" means the increased value of the property after the lessee's improvements are considered.