Document: 457 U.S. 273 102 S.Ct. 2432 73 L.Ed.2d 1 State of CALIFORNIA, ex rel. STATE LANDS COMMISSION, Plaintiffv.UNITED STATES. No. 89, Original. Argued March 29, 1982. Decided June 18, Rehearing Denied Sept. 9, See 458 1131, 103 14. Syllabus Held: The United States, not California, has title to oceanfront land created through accretion, resulting from construction a jetty, owned by the States on coast California. Pp. 278-288. (a) A dispute over accretions where rests with or was derived Federal Government is be determined federal law. Hughes v. Washington, 389 290, 88 438, 19 530; Wilson Omaha Indian Tribe, 442 653, 99 2529, 61 153. Under law, whatever its cause, belongs upland owner. 278-283. (b) This case where, as matter choice state law should borrowed and applied rule for deciding substantive legal issue. Congress addressed issue in Submerged Lands Act, which vested lands underlying territorial sea confirmed tidelands up line mean high tide, but § 5 withheld grant all "accretions" coastal acquired reserved States. In light this latter provision, borrowing federal-law purposes that would divest ownership foreclosed. Moreover, common must created, since it long been settled under right future an inherent essential attribute littoral riparian 283-285. (c) Only underneath inland waters included initial equal-footing doctrine, 332 19, 67 1658, 91 L.Ed. 1889, hence California cannot properly claim question here doctrine Act. Act constitutional exercise Congress' power dispose property "did impair validity" decision, Louisiana, 363 1, 7, 20, 80 961, 967, 973, 4 1025. To accept California's argument require rejecting only Hughes, supra, also established belong 285-286. (d) Section 2(a)(3) defining "lands beneath navigable waters" fall within Act's general including "made" formerly were water, does apply gradual process sand accumulated along shore, although caused jetty. extent are considered land, they reservation "all filled in, built up, otherwise reclaimed own use." any event, 5(a) expressly withholds 286-288. (e) 3(a) confirming persons who, 5, 1950, entitled water "under respective states located," means nothing more than determines proper beneficiary scope first instance. P. 2441. States' motion judgment pleadings granted. Bruce S. Flushman, San Francisco, Cal., plaintiff. Louis F. Claiborne, D. C., defendant. Justice WHITE delivered opinion Court. before Court accretion decision turns whether governs 2 * From time admission Union 1850, north side entrance channel Humboldt Bay, Cal. 1859 1871, Secretary Interior ordered certain these lands, fronted Pacific Ocean, channel, Bay public sale.1 Since continuously possessed used Coast Guard Reservation. shoreline site remained substantially unchanged until near turn century when began two jetties at Bay.2 jetty constructed resulted fairly rapid ocean Reservation, so submerged became uplands.3 One hundred eightyfour acres seaward movement ordinary high-water mark. remains barren save watchtower, subject case. 3 controversy arose 1977 permission use construct watchtower.4 At evident both asserted land. eventually watchtower without obtaining permission.5 Invoking our original jurisdiction, then filed suit quiet land.6 We granted leave file bill complaint. 454 809, 83, 70 78 (1981). alleges upon September 9 Stat. 452, confirmation 43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., absolute which, after jetties, alluvion deposited, formation Because formed sovereign maintains govern ownership. distinction drawn between accretive changes boundary natural forces artificial objects. For changes, moves benefit Los Angeles Anderson, 206 662, 667, 275 789, 791 (1929). When works, however, move becomes fixed mark influence introduced. Carpenter Santa Monica, 63 Cal.App.2d 772, 794, 147 P.2d 964, 975 (1944). It disputed newly Therefore, if governs, prevail. By answer, supporting memoranda, contends never passage 1953, submits governed rather long-established Jones Johnston, 18 How. 150, 156, 15 320 (1856); County St. Clair Lovingston, 23 Wall. 46, 66, 21 813 (1874); Jefferis East Land Co., 134 178, 189-193, 10 518, 520-22, 33 872 (1890); Beaver 350 F.2d 4, 10-11 (CA9 1965).7 If such controls, deposited formed. 6 Recognizing choice-of-law clearly drawn, moved summary pleadings. No facts being dispute, special master appointed briefed argued. conclude II 7 Borax Consolidated, Ltd. Angeles, 296 10, 56 23, (1935), city claimed tideland virtue State. defendant patent issued entered Union. Chief single dissent, held tideland, passed her 1850; tideland; "necessarily question" controlled said: 8 "Petitioners according plat, purported convey bordering Ocean. There no free upland, affords ground holding did had premises. grant, is, limit conveyed, necessarily question. concerns validity effect act done States; involves ascertainment basis Packer Bird, 137 661, 669, 670 [11 210, 211, 212, 34 819]; Brewer-Elliott Oil Co. 260 77, 87 [43 60, 64, 140]; Holt Bank, 270 49, 55, [46 197, 199, 465]; Utah, 283 75 [51 440, 844]. Rights interests sovereignty State, matters local Barney Keokuk [4 Otto 324, 342], 94 338 [24 224]; Shively Bowlby, [152 1,] 40 [, 14 548, 562, 38 331]; Hardin Jordan, 140 371, 382 808, 812, 35 428]; Port Seattle Oregon & Washington R. 255 56, [41 237, 239, 65 500]". U.S., 22, S.Ct., 29. went hold extend line, defined involved Borax. But some 30 years later, Mrs. Stella successor interest owner patented prior entry into Union, sued seeking become attached shoreline. belonged tidelands, longer fronting ocean. trial court found applied. Supreme reversed, accreted statehood. Wash.2d 799, 410 20 (1966). 11 reaffirming state-owned same determine extended seaward. 530 (1967).8 justification employing nature question: "The deals lap boundaries international sea. relationship, particular point marginal sea, too close vital Nation allow 'supreme Law Land.' " Id., 293, 440. decide grantee uplands accretions. 12 Except fact present always similarly situated. Unless overruled, 13 urges intents already eviscerated Board Corvallis Sand Gravel 429 363, 97 582, 50 550 (1977). corporation part riverbed because avulsive river's course. Appeals affirmed court's award result dictated Bonelli Cattle Arizona, 414 313, 517, 526 (1973), source majority overruling decided solely Bonelli's error said have reliance law.9 Once "it operate date what titles river might have." 587. disputes about rejected private owners. do agree. itself recognized continue "there other principle requiring displaced." example, effects course stream forming interstate 375, 589. rest "sufficiently different . justify 'federal law' proprietorship." 377, n.6, 590, n.6. purport disturb Hughes. 153 (1979), made clear "where [United States] parted continues." 670, 2539.10 inCorvallis previously possession. contrast, trust Tribe. stream. involved. What we least equally applicable to, occupied, utilized 100 years: "[T]he oust Here, dealing merely respect yielded terminated interest." 2539. 16 conclude, based III 17 Controversies inevitably resort uniform rules. 672, 2540. may that, given question, hand. Commissioners Jackson 308 343, 60 285, 84 313 (1939); Royal Indemnity 289, 995, 85 1361 (1941). First, dispositive itself, case, three miles low-water line. tide. however States.11 1313(a). Wilson, adopt rule, concerns, let alone statutory directive, required common-law rule. created. New Orleans Pet. 717, 661 (1836); Wall., 68. 'Almost jurists legislators, ancient modern, agreed thus bounded additions.' 189, 520, quoting Banks Ogden, 57, 67, 818 (1865). invitation rely readily admits "in issues essentially identical," Statement Support Motion Leave File Complaint 16, see reason juncture minority accretions,12 even so. Applying accretions, regardless accrue owner, entire IV Despite claims submits, firmly 1889 (1947), doctrine. Furthermore, property, Alabama Texas, 347 272, 273-274, 74 481, 482, 98 689 (1954), 1025 (1960).13 approach, statute, historic wrong replaced awarding took place. submission, owner—a consistent prevailing Part III, supra. Indeed, proposed inconsistent attributable causes reasons, refuse depart long-settled rule.14 Independent above analysis, surrendered argues falls naviagable waters." defines include made, 1301(a)(3). and, submerged, accretion-formed whose 22 read provision applying affecting action sea.15 follows congressional object assure each continuing landfill like work performed each.16 agree exposure constitutes "accretion." reading adheres grants construed strictly favor Grand River Dam Authority, 229, 235, 1134, 1138, 1186 (1960); 353 112, 116, 77 685, 687, 693 (1957). Finally, located ." 1311(a). Act; V 24 reaffirm today cause find parcel Accordingly, denied, parties, either them, may, 27, 1982, submit decree carry effect, failing will prepare enter appropriate next Term 25 ordered. 26 REHNQUIST, whom STEVENS O'CONNOR join, concurring judgment. 27 I concur believe requires application resolve indicates 28 artificially belonging centers "mean mark." That separates fastlands "tidelands"—the area partially high- marks. applies adopted courts regarding holds vests 29 similar instrumentality 669-671, 2538-2539. (1977), distinguished. rule—that governs—applies shifting involve instrumentality. well riverfront fashion way bed instant irrelevant geographical "fact," State's dominion, bottom tidelands. bothWilson concern owns 31 supplied though dispute. need national why treated rules persons. contrast decision. acquire pursuant "made lands" provisions 2(a)(3). 32 Consequently, Court's discussion vitality (1967), dicta. unnecessary resolution person. Reliance necessary patentee difficult reconcile postpone endeavor undertake it. summary, think can easily resolved concerning Ocean's left another day. Secretarial Order, December 1859; August 1871. Exhibit C Exhibits Complaint. Construction commenced South Spit North 1890. U. Army Corps Engineers, Francisco District, Survey Report App. I, Shoreline Changes 2-3, 8-9 (Feb. 1950), D (hereafter cited Report). massive work, having total length 7,500 feet. shift jetties. study Engineers found: "With inauguration 1890, there series interruptions normal transport [of sand]. With increment [Humboldt] bar pushed Consequent decrease offshore depths shore advance inlet." 8, ¶ 25. After construction, ". shifted reformed 1870 position, spit most pronounced reconstruction 1917." contend permit, estopped asserting Tr. Oral Arg. 5-6. Such foreclosed 39-40, 1668-69, (1947) (footnote omitted): "[O]fficers who authority their conduct lose valuable rights acquiescence, laches, failure act." City 310 31-32, 749, 757, 1050 (1940); Utah 284 534, 545-546, 52 232, 76 469 (1932). May 1978, transmitted permit watchtower. Report, few days Bureau Management Department formally advised Commission acreage accretion. Letter G. executed. Disputes fully jurisdiction cases "which shall Party," Art. 2, cl. 2. Although concurrent district courts, 440 59, 65, 919, 923, 59 144 (1979); 1251(b)(2), indicated appropriately brought actions Alaska, 422 184, 186, n.2, 95 2240, 2244, 45 109 (1975). waived immunity against 1346(f). 65-68, 923-924. 2540, "federal law" avulsion, misunderstanding "[t]he furnish govern" involving Too much dictum 380-381, n. 591-592, taking dissent's meaning term law." All participating Justices joined except Stewart, concurred grounds constituted compensation. He majority's MARSHALL admitted possess Pollard's Lessee Hagan, 565 (1845); 152 26, 30, 557, 559, 331 (1894). appears recognize remaining hands: 'We true this, whenever Court, federal, once passed, laws whenever, laws, state, legislation; far legislation States.' 590 (quoting Wilcox Jackson, 498, 264 (1839); emphasis added Court). relevant part, 62 32, 1313(a), excepts tracts parcels together thereto, lawfully retained ceded mentioned connection "acquired lands," excepted Former Solicitor General Cox, approved Attorney General, explained: "There doubt intended various categories section terms make clear. customary landowners set forth full several exceptions listed 5(a). Thus, speaks 'all resources therein, improvements thereon. .' Each simply lands.' Obviously, comprehensive word 'lands' instead 'tracts land' explicit reference omitted order avoid repetition. reasonable conclusion. limited thereon' 'lawfully grantees denied them 'expressly retained' 'acquired eminent domain proceedings, purchase, cession, gift, proprietary capacity. 42 Op.Atty.Gen. 241, (1963). O. T. 1951, 6, Orig., argued "Court imperceptible degrees induced structures adjoining land." Brief Relation Special Master 90. suggested "ample reasons [the] exceptional view determining off California." 91. Those contrary lead varying results devised wholly inapplicable reasons. 482; 381 139, 145-148, 1401, 1405-06, (1965); 155, 156-157, 367, 368, 383 (1967); Texas Boundary Case, 394 89 768, 769, 36 (1969); Maine, 420 515, 524-526, 1155, 1160-61, (1975); 446 253, 256, 268, 1618, 1621, 1627, 64 196 (1980). reject alternative theory ever deposition occurred areas phase—vesting State—before emerging uplands. initially doctrine; most, suggests former suggestion little recommend Even leaving aside expressed text, was, tideland. implementation plotting lines intervening times statehood present. inserted introduced Congressman Walter. H.R. 8137, 81st Cong., 2d Sess., 2(a)(2) (1950). measure describes substance, same" earlier proposals omitting term. H.R.Rep.No. 2078, Throughout consideration comment provision. Member House 1301(a)(3) covered works. Against background, significance casual references Robert Moses Senator Daniel naturally "made." Hearings S.J.Res. al. Senate Committee Insular Affairs, 83d 1st 158 (1953) (remarks Moses); id., 193-194 Sen. Daniel). interpretive rendered while islands language 2(a)(3), rejects mainland, directly causes, Op.Atty.Gen., 259-265, 266-267. express treatment

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