Opinion ID: 2461173
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State v. Bunkowski

Text: We furthered the application of public trust doctrine principles with respect to state-owned navigable waterways two years later in State v. Bunkowski, 88 Nev. 623, 503 P.2d 1231 (1972). In Bunkowski, we reiterated `[i]t is settled law in this country' that, by virtue of a state's admission into the United States, `lands underlying navigable waters within [the] State belong to the State in its sovereign capacity.' Id. at 627, 503 P.2d at 1233 (quoting United States v. Holt Bank, 270 U.S. 49, 54, 46 S.Ct. 197, 70 L.Ed. 465 (1926)). Significantly, we then pointed out that the state holds those lands in trust for its citizens, which prevents the transfer of those lands, absent proper legislative determination: It has been held, in what appears to be a majority of cases, that the states hold title to the beds of navigable watercourses in trust for the people of their respective states. Titles to navigable water beds are normally inalienable. In Alameda Conservation Association v. City of Alameda [264 Cal.App.2d 284], 70 Cal.Rptr. 264 (Cal.App. 1968), it was held that while the state owns land under bays, such lands can be transferred by the state free of trust upon proper legislative determination, citing People v. California Fish Co. [166 Cal. 576], 138 P. 79 (Cal.1913). Id. at 634, 503 P.2d at 1237-38 (citations omitted). In so recognizing, we implicitly acknowledged the public trust doctrine, ultimately concluding that [t]he State holds the subject lands in trust for public use.  Id. at 635, 503 P.2d at 1238 (emphasis added). Although we recognized that under certain circumstances the Legislature could alienate public trust lands without breaking the public trust, we did not further elaborate on that concept, apart from indicating that the Legislature must make an express and proper determination. Id. at 634, 503 P.2d at 1237-38. The cases we referenced, however, indicate that legislative conveyances of trust lands must account for the public's interest in maintaining such waterways for their public use. See, e.g., California Fish Co., 138 P. at 88.