The board of directors of any reclamation district authorized under this chapter, shall have power to construct district works across any stream of water, water course, street, avenue, highway, railway, canal, ditch or flume which works may intersect or cross in such manner as to afford security for life and property, but said board shall restore the same when so crossed or intersected to its former state as near as may be or in a sufficient manner not to have impaired unnecessarily its usefulness.