Navigable Waters (Section 10) of the United State (Traditional)

These waters are administratively defined to mean waters that have been used in the past, are 

now used, or are susceptible to use as a means to transport interstate or foreign commerce up to 

the head of navigation. 

A determination of the navigability, once made, applies laterally over the entire surface of the 

water body to the ordinary high water mark (OHW). The OHW mark for inland fresh waters is the line 

on the shores established by physical characteristics such as a clear, natural line impressed on the 

bank; shelving, changes in the character of soil; destruction of terrestrial vegetation; the presence of 

litter and debris; or other appropriate means that consider characteristics of the surrounding areas. 

Section 10 or Section 404 permits are required for construction activities in these waters. 

Waters determined to be "navigable waters of the United States" in the Mississippi Valley 

Division include: 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER 

Arkansas 

 Arkansas River 

 Bayou Bartholomew 

 Bayou LaGrue 

 Blackfish Bayou 

 Black River 

 L’Anguille River 

 Little Missouri River 

 Ouachita River 

 Saline River 

 St. Francis River 

 Sulphur River 

 Tyronza River 

 White River 

Tennessee

 Big Hatchie 

 Forked Deer River 

 Obion River 

 Wolf River 

Louisiana 

 Amite River 

 Atchafalaya River 

 Baptist Collette Bayou 

 Barataria Bay Waterway

 Bayou Chene

 Bayou D’Arbonne

 Bayou Dorcheat

 Bayou Lafourche

 Bayou Macon

 Bayou Pierre

 Bayou Teche

 Black Bayou

 Boeuf Bayou

 Boeuf River

 Bogue Chitto River

 Caddo Lake

 Calcasieu River

 Cane River

 Catahoula Lake

 Choctaw Bayou

 Corney Bayou

 Dorchest Bayou

 Freshwater Bayou

 Little River

 Loggy Bayou

 Lake Bistineau

 Little Bayou D’Arbonne

 Mermentau River

 Old West Pearl River

 Red River

 Saline Bayou

 Tensas River

 Twelve-Mile Bayou

(NOTE: This list does not include 

all of he 2,800 miles of navigable 

waterways in South Louisiana 

[within the New Orleans District’s 

area of responsibility), as there 

are numerous waters in this area 

that fit the definition of navigable.)

Mississippi

 Big Black River

 Big Sunflower River

 Coldwater River

 East Pearl River

 Holmes Bayou

 Homochitto River

 Little Tallahatchie River

 Pearl River

 Ross Barnett Reservoir

 Sunflower River

 Tallahatchie River

 Yalobusha River

 Yazoo River

MVD NAVIGABLE WATERS

US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS  MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION  BUILDING STRONG®
Illinois 

 Chain of Rocks Canal 

 Big Muddy River 

 Illinois River 

 Kaskaskia River 

Missouri 

 Femme Osage Creek 

 Meramec River 

 Missouri River 

 Salt River 

Wisconsin 

 Ahnapee River 

 Bad River 

 Black River 

 Bois Brule River 

 Chippewa River 

 Duck Creek 

 East River 

 East Twin River 

 Fox River 

 Green Bay 

 Kenosha Harbor 

 Kewaunee River 

 Kinnickinnic River 

(Milwaukee Harbor) 

 Lake Butte des Morts 

 Lake Michigan 

 Lake Poygan 

 Lake Superior 

 Lake Winnebago 

 Lake Winneconne 

 Little Saumico River 

 Maintowoc River 

 Menominee River

 Menomonee River 

 Milwaukee River 

 Namekagon River 

 Nemadji River 

 Oconto River 

 Pecatonica River 

 Pensaukee River 

 Peshtigo River 

 Port Washington 

 Rock River

 Root River

 Sheboygan River

 St. Croix River

 St. Louis River

 Sturgen Bay and Lake 

(Michigan Ship Canal)

 Suamico River

 Thornapple River

 West Twin River

 White River

 Wisconsin River

 Wolf River

Minnesota

 Big Fork River

 Big Stone Lake

 Bois De Sioux River

 International Boundary 

waters flow west through 

Cook, Lake, St. Louis and 

Koochiching counties

 Kawishiwi River

 Kettle River

 Lake of the Woods

 Lake Superior

 Lake Traverse

 Little Fork River

 Lower Red Lake

 Mile Lacs Lake

 Minnesota River

 Mississippi River 

headwaters reservoirs

 Pigeon River

 Pike River

 Rainy River

 Red Lake River

 Red River of the North

 Rum River

 Snake River

 St. Croix River

 St. Louis River

 Upper Red Lake

 Vermillion Lake

 Vermillion River

R

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FOR MORE 

INFORMATION 

St. Paul District 

www.mvp.usace.army.mil/

Missions/Regulatory/

Rock Island District 

www.mvr.usace.army.mil/

Missions/Regulatory/

St. Louis District 

www.mvs.usace.army.mil/

Missions/Regulatory/

Memphis District 

www.mvm.usace.army.mil/

About/Offices/Regulatory/

Vicksburg District 

www.mvk.usace.army.mil/

Missions/Regulatory/

New Orleans District 

www.mvn.usace.army.mil/

Missions/Regulatory/

AUTHORITY

Section 10 

Rivers and Harbors Act: 

Regulates all structures and/

or work in or affecting 

navigable waters of the U.S.

Section 404 

Clean Water Act: 

Regulates discharges of 

dredged or fill material into 

all waters of the U.S.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1400 Walnut Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180 www.mvd.usace.army.mil 

Dec. 2018