Coastal Services Center

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Geographic Scope of the Doctrine

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Module Description

This module details how navigable waters are defined and discusses how the doctrine’s scope may change with the changes to the shore.

Module Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what constitutes “navigable waters”
• Discuss how states and the federal government define navigable waters differently and what effect these definitions have on the Public Trust Doctrine
• Specify the boundary of Public Trust interest used by most states on tidewaters and freshwaters
• Discuss the natural and artificial ways in which the boundary of Public Trust interest can change and what effect these changes have on the Public Trust.
• Explain how public interest in filled lands can be revived