All landowners shall clean out all streams upon and adjacent to their lands at least twice in each year, at such particular times as the respective governing bodies of the several counties of the State may appoint and according to the directions of such governing bodies, and shall keep them clear of all obstruction to a free and uninterrupted flow of sand and water through the channels thereof. This section shall not be construed to prevent the erection and maintenance of any dam across any of such streams for any useful purpose but such governing bodies may require the owner of any such dam to build and maintain therein suitable and sufficient floodgates and waterways to afford free passage through them of the sand and water, so that the streams above may be properly cleaned out and the lands adjacent thereto properly drained and for such purpose they may require the owner of any such dam to open the floodgates or waterways therein and keep them open for such reasonable time as they may deem to be necessary. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of maintaining a nuisance and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days if ten days’ notice to abate such nuisance shall have been given.