Opinion ID: 1747260
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Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Public and Florida's Beaches

Text: Under both the Florida Constitution and the common law, the State holds the lands seaward of the MHWL, including the beaches between the mean high and low water lines, in trust for the public for the purposes of bathing, fishing, and navigation. See art. X, § 11, Fla. Const. (The title to lands under navigable waters, within the boundaries of the state, which have not been alienated, including beaches below mean high water lines, is held by the state, by virtue of its sovereignty, in trust for all the people.); White v. Hughes, 139 Fla. 54, 190 So. 446, 449 (1939) (The State holds the fore-shore in trust for its people for the purposes of navigation, fishing and bathing.); see also Clement v. Watson, 63 Fla. 109, 58 So. 25, 26 (1912). As we explained in Brickell v. Trammell, 77 Fla. 544, 82 So. 221 (1919), this public trust doctrine has its origins in English common law: Under the common law of England the crown in its sovereign capacity held the title to the beds of navigable or tide waters, including the shore or the space between high and low water marks, in trust for the people of the realm who had rights of navigation, commerce, fishing, bathing, and other easements allowed by law in the waters. This rule of the common law was applicable in the English colonies of America. After the Revolution resulting in the independence of the American states, title to the beds of all waters, navigable in fact, whether tide or fresh, was held by the states in which they were located, in trust for all the people of the states respectively. When the Constitution of the United States became operative, the several states continued to hold the title to the beds of all waters within their respective borders that were navigable in fact without reference to the tides of the sea, not for purposes of disposition to individual ownerships, but such title was held in trust for all the people of the state respectively, for the uses afforded by the waters as allowed by the express or implied provisions of law, subject to the rights surrendered by the states under the federal Constitution. The rights of the people of the states in the navigable waters and the lands thereunder, including the shore or space between ordinary high and low waters marks, relate to navigation, commerce, fishing, bathing, and other easements allowed by law. These rights are designed to promote the general welfare and are subject to lawful regulation by the states, and such regulation is subordinate to the powers of Congress as to interstate commerce, navigation, post roads, etc., and to the constitutional guaranties of private property rights. The trust in which the title to the lands under navigable waters is held is governmental in its nature and cannot be wholly alienated by the states. For the purpose of enhancing the rights and interests of the whole people, the states may by appropriate means grant to individuals limited privileges in the lands under navigable waters, but not so as to divert them or the waters thereon from their proper uses for the public welfare, or so as to relieve the states respectively of the control and regulation of the uses afforded by the land and the waters, or so as to interfere with the lawful authority of Congress. See 62 Fla. 549, 57 So. 428; Clement v. Watson, 63 Fla. 109, 58 So. 25. New states, including Florida, admitted into the Union on equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatsoever, have the same rights, prerogatives, and duties with respect to the navigable waters and the lands thereunder within their borders as have the original 13 states of the American Union. Among these prerogatives are the right and duty of the states to own and hold the lands under navigable waters for the benefit of the people.... Id. at 226 (parallel citations omitted); see also Hayes v. Bowman, 91 So.2d 795, 799 (Fla.1957); State v. Gerbing, 56 Fla. 603, 47 So. 353, 355-56 (1908). In addition to its duties under the public trust doctrine, the State has an obligation to conserve and protect Florida's beaches as important natural resources. As article II, section 7(a) of the Florida Constitution states, [i]t shall be the policy of the state to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty. Adequate provision shall be made by law for the abatement of air and water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise and for the conservation and protection of natural resources. Concisely put, the State has a constitutional duty to protect Florida's beaches, part of which it holds in trust for all the people. Art. X, § 11, Fla. Const. Having explained the State's interests and duties on behalf of the public in relation to Florida's beaches, we now describe the upland owners' interests and rights.