Document: 466 U.S. 96 104 S.Ct. 1645 80 L.Ed.2d 74 State of LOUISIANAv.State MISSISSIPPI et al. No. 86, Orig. Argued Jan. 16, 1984. Decided April 2, Syllabus This original action was filed by Louisiana against Mississippi and a riparian landowner (Dille) to resolve dispute as the boundary between two States in reach River. In 1970, Louisiana, acting its capacity under law owner riverbed out line, executed an oil gas lease covering disputed area. 1971, Dille, land who, law, has title similar same lessee, who drilled well directionally river from surface location on Dille's side. The "bottom hole" well—which completed 1972 been producing continuously since then—is known agreed upon. After trial, Special Master Report, concluding that at all times during period 1972-1982 well's bottom hole within west wherever might have been, it not necessary delineate specific relevant years. exceptions Report. Held: 1. At completion Louisiana. Pp. 99-106. (a) Earlier original-jurisdiction litigation this Court established "live thalweg" navigable channel River is States. A defined live thalweg follows course stream bed change with gradual processes erosion accretion. ordinary vessel traffic defines thalweg. 99-101. (b) agrees Master's conclusion, which consistent testimony Louisiana's expert witnesses, east for each years question, thus leaving throughout period, his rejection view Mississippi's witness line migrated so shift jurisdictional back forth conclusion resolves case far Dille leases, consequences flow therefrom, are concerned. 101-106. 2. properly concluded only issue be resolved centered area 11 1982. 106-108. Exceptions Report overruled confirmed. J.I. Palmer, Jr., Jackson, Miss., defendants. David C. Kimmel, Baton Rouge, La., plaintiff. Justice BLACKMUN delivered opinion Court. 1 Avery B. above Giles Bend Cutoff, upstream city Natchez. Master, however, stops short ascertaining entire along stretch, would us favor 1972-1982, litigation, actually contested point—the place particular well—at Therefore, observes, we need go no further bringing controversy end. 2 response those exceptions, argued orally, matter, thus, before disposition. 3 * marks See Act Apr. 8, 1812, Stat. 701, admitting Union; Mar. 1, 1817, 348, Joint Resolution Dec. 10, 472, Union. Under line. Morgan v. Reading, Miss. 366 (1844); Magnolia Marshall, 39 109 (1860); Wineman Withers, 143 537, 547, 108 So. 708 (1926). owns Capdeville, 146 La. 94, 106, 83 421, 425 (1919); Wemple Eastham, 150 247, 251, 90 637, 638 (1922). 4 July proprietary capacity, now dispute. January defendant lease. Each ran operator. lessee owned 1972. Its bottom-hole Tr. Oral Arg. 25-26. It completion. acknowledges when production began, 5 On June 20, 1979, instituted suit Chancery Adams County, certain individuals entities then holding working interests leasehold estates leases. plaintiff, alleged had westerly subject defendants removed United District Southern Mississippi. remains pending court (Civil Docket W79-0069(R) sub nom. Pruet & Hughes Co. (a partnership), al.). 6 December 21, motion leave file bill complaint Dille. Although opposed motion, granted file. 445 957, 100 1641, 64 232 (1980). Federal Mississippi, joint parties action, stayed proceedings resolution suit. Meanwhile, here their answer. We appointed Charles J. Meyers Denver, Colo., Master. 454 937, 102 471, 70 245 (1981). 7 proceeded pretrial conference schedule discovery. intervene, corporations asserting mineral lease, denied By order, specified proper Louisiana-Mississippi relative well. basis, went trial New Orleans September II 8 other here. 202 26 408, 50 L.Ed. 913 (1906); 282 458, 51 197, 75 459 (1931); 384 24, 86 1250, 16 330 (1966). three cases, ruled U.S., 53, S.Ct., 423; 459, 465, 467, 200, 201; 25, 26, 1251, 1252. That must regarded settled. 4. forms predicate, course, present litigation. 9 north Natchez, constructed 1930's. captured main River, abandoned old bend marked principal course. cutoff, being man-made effectuating change, obviously, avulsive; there is, question state latitude cutoff itself. concerned just cutoff. 10 proposition, stated above, itself affords little help does take very far. Indeed, do applicable general legal principles. observes "no serious disagreement . case." Reply Brief 5. usually will dynamic Arkansas Tennessee, 246 158, 173, 38 301, 304, 62 (1918); 397 88, 89-90, 784, 785, 25 73 (1970). contrast, may become fixed when, avulsive suddenly leaves new one. 175, 305; 784-785. Thus, merely say lead easy for, argues, wander, and, if wanders enough, find different opposite sides 12 matter complicated fact definition term "thalweg" uniform or exact. notes p. 4, Court, 49, observed mean "the middle deepest most channel," but he points correctly middle" "deepest" "most navigable" necessarily one same. acknowledged Minnesota Wisconsin, 252 273, 282, 40 313, 319, 558 (1920) ("Deepest water same"). doctrine evolved presumed intent Congress establishing boundaries, roots international concept equality access. Iowa Illinois, 147 13 239, 37 55 (1893). Texas 410 702, 709-710, 93 1215, 1219-1220, 35 646 (1973). What emerges proposition [channel], or, rather, followed." 13, 243; 319. Jersey Delaware, 291 361, 379, 54 407, 413, 78 847 (1934). As observed, appear agree, boundary, thalweg." 6. Our task, therefore, identify downstream traffic. appears us, did evidence commonly taken vessels navigating river. turn. III 14 Three witnesses testified length. qualified expert. Two, Hatley N. Harrison, Leo Odom, were presented third, Austin Smith, trained engineer spent much professional career attending problems related surveying mapping rivers, navigation, flood control. that, despite questions raised witnesses' qualifications, "professional qualifications needed identify, interpret, evaluate data problem locating river" "did commendable job." Id., 7. carefully reviewed reason disagree evaluation respective observation commendableness performances witnesses. 15 Over exhibits admitted conjunction experts. particular, hydrographic surveys admitted; these prepared Army Corps Engineers. contained soundings, average low plane, contour lines, gauge data. They noted lights placed Coast Guard aid navigation. Some also buoys floats served indicate direction velocity current. introduced reports issued 1976-1982; based soundings recommended reference buoys. id., provided characteristics approximately four miles long. shape elbow-like concave bank mile point bend. Gibson Light about one-half point. An uninterrupted trough deep never water, generally lies bank, Another elbow. riverbed, "rises markedly troughs water," 11, traverse "crossing" shallower troughs. navigation crossing disagreed. 17 sailing Harrison passed 1972-1982; left period. 18 witness, took somewhat approach. He offered preferred thalweg, depicted map transposed onto surveys. His Harrison's coincide. Odom's version, Harrison's, always words, too, 19 Smith followed another path. stressed factors: track first two, indicated, closely perhaps identical. can navigational aids, such bulletins mariners. swiftest water. could determined sounding lines Witness explicitly use aids determine Instead, according method able discern lines. applied reaches including crossing. 20 Smith's approach 1972-1974. He, meander over 1975. move 1977. Again, pass 1981, 5, 1981. migrating shifted previously noted, therefore conflict respect 1975, 1976, 1977, 21 16-30, detail analyzed any inference migration made lights, changing depths, configuration revealed 17. Mr. manner navigator proceed Cutoff Light, failure advantage 3,500 feet lower 22 felt plausible indicator probable route 25. concluded, maximum led inferred 1975; allowed mariner keep tow pointed down sharp turns without encountering hazardous environment. proceeding nearly overrun black buoy (ordinarily given wide berth starboard side going downstream) second port buoy. 26. defended position ground appeared off station. 23 reflected straight across neck 750 feet. 27. found record" support placement Ibid. while encounter hazards crossing, fail make substantial portions thereby lengthen 29. 24 years, either conform available surveys, conceivable adopt disregard important buoys, failed utilize stretches bore relationship Guard. For takes exception conclusions. stresses what regards unparalleled expertise potamologist decades experience field. suggests understand testimony. Exceptions, 11. said used all, part, submitted. grasp "filling marks" "breaking down." urges error aids. All claims, interpreting raw 20. asserts 1975 correct picking swift shortest distance through says thing 1976. station so-called "geological thalweg," part river, runs factual basis statement lengthened necessitated turns. claimed, square "practical realities large tows river." 37. These recitals, seems reveal presence unusual situation. Qualified experts differed heard drew own recommendations our independent review record ourselves agreement interpreted question. considered To sure, business boundaries; recommending safe courses. 27 confirm recommendation conclude obviously IV 28 objections addressed secondarily refusal statement, 31, beginning relation "in purest sense, simply true." 38. issue, "floats amorphous ether." 39. speaks regulatory taxing authority drainage property. exact prescribe limits drilling units precise determination inure benefit really requested along. 29 specifically declined "to draw my version hydrographs evidence." 31. him, "wholly gratuitous improper seven undisputed side." 32. 30 agree inferences otherwise prayer relief complaint, developed, centered, remained hole. emerged one, resolved. reasons granting complete yearly persuasive, perceive apart proposed decree stretch where was, future. concedes 1982 "would after year," 9; making claim taxes 20; side, 21; possible "private concern State," 11-12. consequence more particularized past. 31 situation, different, least some views prevailed. And moves enough power tax regulate oil, pertinent. But earlier bearing produced future Taxes, items referred to, assumed posture critical significance special identified prize. If mature come States, either, free institute appropriate resolution. V 32 overruled. adopted hold 33 effect desired, party prepare submit Court's consideration. 34 ordered.

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