Document: 389 U.S. 290 88 S.Ct. 438 19 L.Ed.2d 530 Stella HUGHES, Petitioner,v.STATE OF WASHINGTON. No. 15. Argued Nov. 6, 1967. Decided Dec. 11, Charles B. Welsh, South Bend, Wash., for petitioner. Edwin L. Weisl, Jr., Washington, D.C., the United States, as amicus curiae, by special leave of Court. Harold T. Hartinger, Olympia, respondent. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered opinion 1 The question decision is whether federal or state law controls ownership land, called accretion, gradually deposited ocean on adjoining upland property conveyed States prior to statehood. circumstances that give rise are these. Prior 1889 all land in what now State Washington was owned except had been private parties. At time owners bordering ocean, such predecessor title Mrs. Hughes, petitioner here, under common a right include within their lands any accretion built up ocean.1 became 1889, and Article 17 State's new constitution, interpreted its Supreme Court, denies ocean-front further rights might future be formed between ocean. This suit brought successor original grantee, against owner tidelands determine accretions which existed abolished provision Constitution. trial court upheld Hughes' contention remained subject law, she accreted lands. Court reversed, holding controlled these 67 Wash.2d 799, 410 P.2d 20 (1966). We granted certiorari. 385 1000, 87 700, 540 (1967). hold this governed federal, not state, who traces her grant statehood, accretions. 2 While issue appears never have squarely presented before, we think path indicated our Borax, Consolidated Ltd. v. City Los Angeles, 296 10, 56 23, 80 L.Ed. 9 (1935). In case dealt with California held patent, instance, unlike present case, patent issued after 3 '(t)he extent grant, is, limit conveyed, boundary tideland, necessarily question. It concerns validity effect an act done States; it involves ascertainment essential basis asserted law.' U.S., at 22, S.Ct., 29. 4 No subsequent has cast doubt principle announced Borax. See also Oregon, 295 1, 27—28, 55 610, 620—621, 79 1267 argues, below held, however, Borax should applied here because involved no true, did involve were decided law. true based broad general definition shoreline particularized problem relating accretion. 294 F.2d 830, 832 (C.A.9th Cir. 1961), cert. denied, 369 817, 82 828, 7 783 (1962). therefore find significant difference case. 5 Recognizing difficulty distinguishing respondent urges us reconsider it. itself, well supra, many other cases, makes clear dispute over Federal Government although course may, if desires, choose select rule rule. holds there choice area, concluding correctly decided. deals waters lap both boundaries international sea. relationship, particular point marginal sea, too close vital interest Nation own allow but 'supreme Law Land'. 6 brings is. attempted argue gives accretions, seems could not. A long unbroken line decisions establishes grantee bounded body navigable water acquires natural gradual along shore. Jones Johnston, 18 How. 150, 15 320 (1856), two parties owning Lake Michigan soil shore, '(l)and gained from sea either alluvion dereliction, same little little, small imperceptible degrees, belongs adjoining.' How., 156. repeatedly reaffirmed County St. Clair Lovingston, 23 Wall. 46, 59 (1874); Jefferis East Omaha Land Co., 134 178, 10 518, 33 872 (1890),2 soundness scarcely open Any would riparian continually danger losing access often most valuable feature property, vulnerable harassing litigation challenging location lines. some insecure event, since they considerable control neighboring tideland,3 insufficient reason mercy phenomena may way affect interests tideland owner. Stevens Arnold, 262 266, 269—270, 43 560, 561, 974 (1923). entitled judgment remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 8 Reversed remanded. MARSHALL took part consideration STEWART, concurring. 11 I fully agree 1866 Hughes originally measurable applicable acquired For me, however does end matter. 1966, before us, terminated oceanfront when 1889. concedes conferred But purports reserved post-1889 public domain. beach claims only failed effort abolish seashore 12 Surely must conceded proposition real Constitution, left individual develop administer. And surely free make changes, legislative judicial, rules including governing owners. Nor derive somehow immune changing impact rules. Joy Louis, 201 332, 342, 26 478, 481, 50 776. were, then like carved entirely out territory, forever frozen into mold occupied date admission Union. follows cannot claim immunity changes simply derives grant. Like owner, insist, quite apart origin title, take without just compensation. Chicago, & Q.R. Co. 166 226, 236—241, 581, 584 586, 41 979. 13 Accordingly, Constitution unambiguously provided, coast day forward belong rather than owners, questions discussed exceedingly difficult. First: Does prospective change constitute compensable taking? Second: If so, constitutional compensation run so his successors—including Hughes—a valid State? 14 fact, contained unambiguous provision. Article, 'the beds shores ordinary high tide, where tide ebbs flows, banks rivers lakes.' that, language, '(l)ittoral terminated.' 816, 20, Such conclusion highest ordinarily bind inextricably intertwined. reasonably said littoral compensation, Pacific Ocean 1966. resolve taking first making determination To arguably conforms reasonable expectations, accept conclusive. constitutes sudden unpredictable terms relevant precedents, deference appropriate. permitted defeat prohibition due process simple device asserting retroactively taken all. Whether worked thus inevitably presents Demorest Bank Farmers Trust 321 236, 42—43, 64 384, 388—389, 526. Cf. Indiana ex rel. Anderson Brand, 303 95, 58 443, 685. insisted 'not startling.' 814, 28. What accuracy characterization. 16 rested result upon Eisenbach Hatfield, Wash. P. 539, L.R.A. 632, relative themselves. declined here. resolved 1946, Ghione State, 635, 175 955. There asserted, operated deprive rejected assertion vested land. years decision, reached different conclusion. sought distinguish Ghione: river. emphatically stated 'rule * applies tidewaters fresh waters.' 645, 955, 961. can conclude, dissenting judge below, court's recent construction effected unforeseeable expounded about Hughes: every regard hers declared Of conceive action taking. As exercises power regulate, pursue project, pre-existing impaired calculated anyone he once owned. measures says, intends, does. Although made attempt eminent domain, achieved effecting retroactive transformation property—without paying privilege doing so. Because Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment forbids confiscation less through courts legislature, unintended deliberate, join reversing judgment. (1856); (1874). Ker Couden, 223 268, 32 284, 432 (1912), Holmes, writing Spanish added shore Philippines belonged domain adjacent estate. common-law utilize flowing water, Anthony Falls Water-Power Board Water Com'rs, 168 349, 157, 42 497 (1897), build wharf Shively Bowlby, 152 548, 38 331 (1894). fill block owner's water. Port Seattle Oregon W. R. 255 56, 237, 65 500 (1921).

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