Section 51. Method of abandonment

Prior to the exercising of such authority
  of  abandonment,  however,  the  corporation shall cause a notice of any
  proposed abandonment to be transmitted  to  the  commission  and  to  be
  published  once  each  week  for  three  successive weeks in a newspaper
  published in the county wherein such lands are located, except that such
  publication shall appear in a newspaper published in the municipality or
  locality wherein such lands  are  located  when  there  is  a  newspaper
  published  in  such municipality or locality. Such notice shall describe
  the lands proposed to be abandoned with sufficient certainty to identify
  them and invite interested parties to  file  written  statements  either
  supporting  or opposing the proposed abandonment. Upon the expiration of
  the period of publishing said notice, when  it  is  the  case  that  the
  assessment  for  such  lands  proposed  for  abandonment  is equal to or
  greater than fifty  thousand  dollars,  the  corporation  shall  hold  a
  hearing  at  which  evidence  or further information may be submitted. A
  record shall be made of all evidence submitted at such  hearing.  If  no
  hearing shall appear to the corporation to be warranted or subsequent to
  such  hearing, should one be held, the corporation may in its discretion
  declare such lands abandoned for the purposes of the canal  system.  The
  corporation shall thereupon issue an official order abandoning the lands
  for  canal  purposes  together  with  a map and description of the lands
  abandoned and dispose of any portion of canal lands  so  abandoned.  Any
  money  realized  from  the sale of such land shall be deposited into the
  canal fund.