Document: 480 U.S. 700 107 S.Ct. 1487 94 L.Ed.2d 704 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.CHEROKEE NATION OF OKLAHOMA. No. 85-1940. Argued Feb. 23, 1987. Decided March 31, Syllabus Choctaw Nation v. Oklahoma, 397 620, 90 1328, 25 615 (1970), held that, under pertinent treaties with the Federal Government, certain Indian Tribes, including respondent Tribe, were granted title to riverbed underlying portions of Arkansas River in Oklahoma. The Government's construction a navigable channel river damaged respondent's mineral interests. After unsuccessfully seeking compensation from filed suit District Court, contending that project resulted taking Fifth Amendment interests without just compensation. Granting summary judgment for respondent, court rejected, on basis Nation, defense its navigational servitude Commerce Clause precluded liability alleged taking, and relevant Government had not reserved servitude. Court Appeals affirmed, adopting different analysis. It found retained river, but that—balancing public private involved—the was insufficient protect compensate respondent. Held: No "balancing" test, as formulated by Appeals, is required where, here, interference instream results an exercise power regulate uses waters. proper invasion any property rights stream or lands it, damage sustained does result riparian owners within meaning lawful which owners' are subject. Contrary contention, decision support conclusion unique scope, abandoned area. Moreover, fiduciary obligations dealing tribal do elevate actions into taking. here simply include right be free Pp. 703-708. 782 F.2d 871 (CA 10 1986), reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Jeffrey P. Minear, petitioner. James Wilcoxen, Muskogee, Okl., Chief Justice REHNQUIST 1 In determined between Cherokee, Chickasaw, Tribes United States fee simple specified circumstances sufficient overcome "strong presumption against conveyance States" bed water. Montana States, 450 544, 552, 101 1245, 1251-1252, 67 493 (1981). See Holt State Bank, 270 49, 46 197, 70 L.Ed. 465 (1926). question presented this case whether must pay Cherokee these caused improvements it has made River. sand gravel deposits McClellan-Kerr Project, approved Congress 1946, Act July 24, ch. 595, 60 Stat. 634, 635-636, designed improve navigation mouth at Mississippi Catoosa, completed 1971. 2 our sought Government. refused fund claim after Department Interior Army Corps Engineers concluded States' rendered meritless. Related Agencies Appropriations 1980: Hearings Before Subcommittee House Committee Appropriations, 96th Cong., 1st Sess., pt. 7, pp. 379-392 (1979). did, however, provide opportunity seek judicial relief, conferring jurisdiction Eastern Oklahoma determine "any may have all damages assets related arising [McClellan-Kerr Project]." H.R. 2329, 97th Sess. 3 complaint Project Tribe's response claimed motion judgment, finding created "unique situation portion is, essentially, waterway belonging exclusively Nation." App. Pet. Cert. 26a. Because did reserve treaties, held, owed Tribe Id., 27a.1 4 A divided panel Tenth Circuit (1986). rejected Court's failure defeated interest. "certain [that] River." 876. Nevertheless, liability. Finding "the assertion particular waters acknowledges only owner's use shared large," id., 877, believed effect varied intended use: "When affects ownership connected use, balance decide due." Ibid. Applying though could interfere servitude, consequent loss diminution value.2 5 We think erred formulating balancing test evaluate such in-stream deep streams penetrate country every direction." Gibbons Ogden, 9 Wheat. 1, 195, 6 23 (1824). Though "this never creates blanket exception Takings whenever exercises authority promote navigation," Kaiser Aetna 444 164, 172, 100 383, 389, 62 332 (1979), there can no doubt "[t]he confers position upon connection waters." Rands, 389 121, 122, 88 265, 266, 19 329 (1967). gives "a 'dominant servitude,' FPC Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 347 239, 249, 74 487, 493, 98 666 (1954), extends entire below ordinary highwater mark. always been subject." supra, 123, S.Ct., 267.3 also Kansas City Life Ins. Co., 339 799, 808, 885, 890, 1277 (1950); Scranton Wheeler, 179 141, 163, 21 48, 57, 45 126 (1900). application principles streambed depended valid purpose light those owner. Thus, Lewis Blue Point Oyster Cultivation Co. Briggs, 229 82, 33 679, 57 1083 (1913), occurred where dredging carried out direction destroyed oysters cultivated privately Great South Bay New York. rested view dominant "must water aid navigation." 87, 680. rely put bed, rather observed their very submerged "is acquired subject deepen over them structure interest navigation, require." 88, 680-681. Commodore Park, 324 386, 390, 65 803, 805, 89 1017 (1945); Chicago, M., St.P. & P.R. 312 592, 596-597, 61 772, 775-776, 85 1064 (1941). 7 These well-established concerning would, usual case, dictate we reject "takings" claim. understand argue otherwise. e.g., Brief Opposition 11-12; Tr. Oral Arg. 16, 28-29. Instead, asserts scope requires Respondent explicitly language reading (1970). noted involved "very peculiar circumstances," U.S., 555, n. 5, 1253, Indians promised virtually complete sovereignty new lands." 635, 1336. allowed claimants strong equal-footing doctrine. 551-553, 1251-1252; Shively Bowlby, 152 48-50, 14 548, 566-567, 38 331 (1894). urges further indicate view, gained make "private stream," 28, "not highway artery commerce." 556. 8 quite generous refuse give still more expansive novel There certainly nothing itself suggests broad conveyance. To contrary, expressly retaining because "it concerned easement via constitutional 1337 (emphasis added). parties, clearly understood matter how resolved. See, Petitioner O.T. 1969, 59, p. ("[T]here land beneath conflicts hold navigation").4 Any other would wholly extraordinary, repeatedly applies holders 1253; Grand Dam Authority, 363 229, 233, 80 1134, 1137, 1186 (1960); Chandler-Dunbar Water 53, 63, 667, 672, 1063 citing Gibson 166 269, 271, 17 578, 578-579, 41 996 (1897). Indeed, even when sovereign gain absolute soils own common use" operation doctrine, Martin Waddell, 16 367, 410, 997 (1842), "absolute right" unquestionably paramount ensure remain interstate foreign 551, 1251. If themselves cannot conclude respondent—though degree lands—gained exemption received Such waiver will implied, instead " 'surrendered unmistakable terms.' Bowen Public Opposed Social Security Entrapment, 477 41, 52, 106 2390, 2397, 91 35 (1986), quoting Merrion Jicarilla Apache 455 130, 148, 102 894, 907, 71 (1982). point terms. suggestion course, well established dealings acts capacity. Seminole 316 286, 296-297, 1049, 1054-1055, 86 1480 (1942). When holds trust behalf tribes, "give others, . appropriate purposes, rendering, assuming obligation render, them." Creek 295 103, 110, 55 681, 684, 79 1331 (1935). principles, little cause, they create none otherwise exist presuppose interfered existing As explained, issue it. ." 267. 11 reversed, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 12 so ordered. violated duty engage fair honorable Tribe. address claim, certified takings interlocutory appeal 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). accordingly consider issue, before us here. dissenting judge interests, noting "instead segment definition [navigational servitude] doctrine geographically. F.2d, 882. Relying (1967), dissent owned "no nature 'private river' plaintiff nor tribe." 883. Rands spoke terms owners, than holding cases clear acquired. 596, 775, (1941) ("Whether, local law, owner thread stream, low-water mark, holder federal respect navigation") (footnotes omitted). Reply O.T.1969, 13-14 ("Throughout brief respondents imply if vested petitioner state (under equal footing-implied doctrine) somehow compromised. inference absurd; who riverbed, state, precisely same"). now argues statements merely admitted waive 34. find existence "hybrid" circumstances.

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