Waterway Boundaries

Below is the Table of Contents of the book: WATERWAY BOUNDARIES ALONG INLAND RIPARIAN LANDS CANALS & ISLANDS: A Compilation of Historical Records Including Abstracts from Cases, Statutes & Law Reviews (Detailed Sections on Pennsylvania). 

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WATERWAY BOUNDARIES

ALONG INLAND RIPARIAN LANDS

CANALS & ISLANDS

A Compilation of Historical Records Including Abstracts from Cases,

Statutes & Law Reviews

(Detailed Sections on Pennsylvania)

Edmond Halley’s 1701 Map Charting Magnetic Variation from True North

(A Supplement to Research)

BY: Michael F. Brinkash, P.L.S.

Copyright July 20, 2022

Addendums “A”, “B” & “C” ADDED July 14, 2023

This research has been compiled by Michael F. Brinkash, a Professional Land Surveyor for educational purposes and is not intended for legal means or purposes. Any and all legal reference material included herein should be consulted with an attorney should there be a need for such advice. 

Contents

SECTION I – WHERE IS THE BOUNDARY LINE?

SECTION 2 - NAVIGABLE

2.1 - WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF NAVIGABLE

2.2 - LEGAL APPLICATIONS OF NAVIGABILITY

2.3 - DEFINITION OF TRADITIONAL NAVIGABLE WATERS FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES – ABSTRACTS OF SELECTED CASES

2.3.1 - THE DANIEL BALL CASE - 77 U.S. 557 (1870)

2.3.2 - THE MONTELLO - 87 U.S. 430, 441-42 (1874)

2.3.3 - ECONOMY LIGHT & POWER - U.S., 256 U.S. 113, 122 (1921)

2.3.4 - UNITED STATES V. HOLT STATE BANK 270 U.S. 49 (1926)

2.3.5 - U.S. v. UTAH 283 U.S. 64, (1931) And U.S. v. APPALACHIAN POWER CO. 311

U.S. 377 (1940)

2.3.6 - UTAH V. UNITED STATES 403 U.S. 9 (1971)

2.3.7 - COURT OF APPEALS, D.C. CIRCUIT COURT REITERATED

SUPREME COURT’S DECISION FPL ENERGY MARINE HYDRO LLC

V. FERC, 287 F.3d 1151, 1157 (D.C. Cir. 2002).

2.3.8 - COURT OF APPEALS, 9TH CIRCUIT COURT IMPLEMENTED THE

SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ALASKA V. AHTNA, INC., 891 F.2d

1404 (9th Cir. 1989)

2.4 – NAVIGABILITY – THE DANIEL BALL CASE

2.5 – NAVIGABLE FOR STATE TITLE PURPOSES

2.6 – NAVIGABLE SOVEREIGN WATERS

2.7 – NAVIGABLE WATERS – PENNSYLVANIA

2.8 – NAVIGABLE WATERS – 1920 – CHAPTER 285

2.9 - NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

2.10 – JURISDICTION OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS

2.11 – POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS

2.12 – THE NAVIGATION SERVITUDE?

2.13 - NAVIGATIONAL SERVITUDE – CASE REFERENCES

2.14 - NAVIGABLE-IN-FACT

2.15 - NAVIGABLE-IN-LAW

2.16 - NAVIGABLE FOR ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION

2.17 - STATUTORY DEFINITION OF THE WORD VESSEL

2.18 – PATTON ON TITLES, VERNON LAW BOOK COMPANY 1938

SECTION 3 – NAVIGABLE TEST

3.1 - NAVIGABILITY - COMMERCE CLAUSE TEST VS.TITLE TEST

3.2 - NAVIGABLE - FEDERAL TITLE TEST

3.3 - THE BASIC TEST OF NAVIGABILITY

3.4 - ELEMENTS OF THE “NAVIGABLE-IN-FACT” TEST AS STATED IN THE

DANIEL BALL CASE:

3.5 - THE LOG AND SMALL BOAT TESTS

3.6 - THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDE

3.7 - ACCESS TO THE OPEN SEA

3.8 - SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT ON INTERSTATE COMMERCE

3.9 - REASONABLE IMPROVEMENT

3.10 - MISCELLANEOUS FACTORS BEARING ON FINAL DECISION TO REGULATE

BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

3.11 - DETERMINING NAVIGABILITY – HISTORICAL SEARCH

SECTION 4 – NONNAVIGABLE

4.1 – THE ENGLISH RULE

4.2 – LOCATION OF BOUNDARY LINE

SECTION 5 – DOCTRINES

5.1 - DOCTRINE OF EQUAL FOOTING

5.2 - PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE

5.3 - COMMON LAW DOCTRINE

5.4 - DOCTRINE OF ACCRETION

5.5 - DOCTRINE OF AVULSION

5.6 - DOCTRINE OF RELICTION

5.7 - DOCTRINE OF NAVIGABLE SERVITUDE

5.8 - DOCTRINE OF RIPARIAN RIGHTS

SECTION 6 - WATER RIGHTS

6.1- RIPARIAN SYSTEMS

6.2 - RIPARIAN RIGHTS AND STATES

6.3 - PRIOR APPROPRIATION RIGHTS AND STATES

6.4 - HYBRID RIGHTS AND STATES

SECTION 7 – STATEHOOD – DATES OF ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES

7.1 – STATEHOOD - CHRONOLOGICAL LIST

SECTION 8 – DEED CALLS – WATERWAYS

8.1 - BANK OF A RIVER

8.2 - HEAD OF STREAM

8.3 - HIGH WATER ELEVATION

8.4 - LOW WATER MARK

8.5 - MEANDER LINES

8.6 - ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK (OHWM)

8.7 - RUNNING TO A STREAM (NON-NAVIGABLE)

8.8 – THALWAG

8.9 - THREAD OF THE STREAM

8.9.1 - THREAD OF THE STREAM – BY EDWARD S. BADE

8-9.2 - THREAD OR CENTER OF STREAM

8.10 – UPLAND

8.11 – UP THE CREEK

8.12 – WATERCOURSE – CONVEYANCE

SECTION 9 – FIELD EVIDENCE TO DETERMINE WATER MARKS

9.1 - FIELD EVIDENCE TO DETERMINE ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK

9.2 - ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK DEFINED – ND

9.3 - LOCATION OF THE CURRENT ORDINARY LOW WATER MARK – SD

9.4 - PA LOCATION OF LOW WATER MARKS COURT DEFINED

SECTION 10 – CASE ABSTRACTS FOR WATERWAYS

10.1 – CONTENT OF CASE ABSTRACTS FOR WATERWAYS

10.2 – CASE ABSTRACTS FOR WATERWAYS - (103 REFERENCES)

SECTION 11 - ISLANDS

11.1 - ISLAND – DEFINITION 1

11.2 - ISLAND – DEFINITION 2 – ACCORDING TO A PENNSYLVANIA CASE

11.3 - ISLAND – DEFINITION 3 – ACCORDING TO A CASE BEFORE THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT

11.4 - ISLAND – DEFINITION 4 – ACCORDING TO “WATER BOUNDARIES” AND

“SHORE AND SEA BOUNDARIES”

11.5 - ISLAND – DEFINITION 5 – ACCORDING TO “RIVER & LAKE BOUNDARIES”

11.6 - ISLANDS IN NAVIGABLE STREAMS

11.7 – TITLE TO ISLANDS

SECTION 12 - CANALS

12.1 – CANAL CASE CITATION – AN EXAMPLE CASE REFERENCE

12.2 - COMMONWEALTH V. COOPER – PUBLISHED CASE

(NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

12.3 - CANALS - GUINAN V. BOSTON V. CAPE COD & NEW YORK CANAL CO.

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

12.4 – PA BOOK REFERENCE TO A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF

LEGISLATVE ACTS FOR CANALS

12.5 - DESCRIPTION OF A CANAL

12.6 - DIMENSIONS OF A CANAL

12.7 – FORMER LOCATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CANAL RECORDS

12.8 – CURRENT LOCATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CANAL RECORDS

12.9 – EXAMPLE PICTURES OF A CANAL SURVEY BOOK

SECTION 13 - DEFINITIONS

13.1 - DEFINITIONS OF NAVIGABLE

13.2 - DEFINITIONS OF WATERWAY WORDS AND PHRASES

SECTION 14 - NAVIGABLE IN PENNSYLVANIA

14.1 - PROPERTY TITLE AND RIGHTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

14.2 - NAVIGABLE-IN-LAW (PA LEGISLATIVE ACTS AND

COURT OPINIONS)

14.3 - NAVIGABLE PA WATERWAYS DECLARED BY DEP & US

CORPS OF ENGINEERS

14.4 - NAVIGABILITY (PA CONCEPT)

14.5 - DEED CALLS (PA)

14.6 - PENNSYLVANIA TEST OF NAVIGABILITY

14.7 - THE STATE’S RULE (PA) FOR RIVERS IS WELL STATED IN

CLEVELAND & PITTSBURGH RAILROAD CO. V. PITTSBURGH COAL CO.

14.8 - THE PRACTICE OF THE FORMER LAND OFFICE IN PENNSYLVANIA

14.9 - A BODY OF WATER, ONCE SHOWN TO BE NAVIGABLE, ALWAYS

NAVIGABLE

14.10 - NAVIGABILITY, IN THE SENSE OF THE LAW

14.11 - THE CHARACTER OF NAVIGABLE WATER IS NOT CHANGED BY ANY

SUBSEQUENT DISUSE

SECTION 15 – PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES ALONG STREAMS - (INCLUDES OLD AND NEW LAWS)

15.1 - FIRST CLASS TOWNSHIP CODE

15.2 - AN ACT CONCERNING TOWNSHIPS OF THE SECOND CLASS

15.3 - CITIES - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS

15.4 - CITY BOUNDARIES

15.5 - BOROUGHS AND INCORPORATED TOWNS

15.6 - MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY CHANGE LAW - THE ACT OF JULY 7, 2022

SECTION 16 - BODY OF LAKE LAW IN PENNSYLVANIA

16.1 - LAKESIDE PARK CO. V. FORSMARK (LIST OF LAKES)

SECTION 17 – PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF PROPERTY

17.1 - PA BOARD OF PROPERTY - SECTION 1207 - 1929 ACT 175

17.2 – BOARD OF PROPERTY - PENNSYLVANIA LAND RECORDS

17.3 – PA COMMONWEALTH COURT RULES - BOARD OF PROPERTY HAS THE

AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE NAVIGABILTY OF PA WATERWAYS

17.4 - THE SALE OF RIVERBEDS IN PENNSYLVANIA

17.5 – 1765 INSTRUCTION TO PA DEPUTY SURVEYORS

SECTION 18 - RIVERS AND STEAMS DECLARED NAVIGABLE HIGHWAYS BY THE PA LEGISLATURE

18.1 - FREE OR PUBLIC WATERS

18.2 - TITLE TO RIVERS, LAKES AND STREAMS IN PA

18.3 - PENNSYLVANIA NAVIGABLE LEGISLATIVE ACTS LEGAL OR NOT

LEGAL?

18.4 - LIST OF PA RIVERS AND STREAMS DECLARED PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OR

NAVIGABLE-IN-LAW WATERS (APPEARING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER OF

STREAM NAME)

SECTION 19 - LIST OF WATERWAYS PREPARED BY THE PA BUREAU OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

19.1 - BUREAU OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT - NOVEMBER 25, 2003

STREAM BEDS OWNED BY THE COMMONWEALTH

SECTION 20 - LIST OF WATERWAYS PREPARED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS

20.1 - STREAMS DECLARED NAVIGABLE BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF

ENGINEERS

SECTION 21 - NAVIGABLE PRINCIPLE RIVERS OF PENNSYLVANIA AS STATED IN COURT CASE - A/K/A THE GREAT RIVERS OF PENNSYLVANIA

SECTION 22 - SUMMARIZED LIST - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO PA RIVERS AND STREAMS DECLARED PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OR NAVIGABLE-IN-LAW WATERS - APPEARING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER OF STREAM NAME, SAME LIST AS SHOWN IN SECTION 22 WITH LESS DETAIL.

SECTION 23 - PENNSYLVANIA NON-NAVIGABLE LAKES

23.1 – CASE REFERENCE - LAKESIDE PARK CO. V. FORSMARK

23.2 - PENNSYLVANIA LAKES CALLED "NON-NAVIGABLE" OR "UNNAVIGABLE

AND PRIVATE"

SECTION 24 - NEW YORK - WATERWAY REFERENCES - CASE

ABSTRACTS FROM PACE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REVIEW

24.1 - NEW YORK SOURCE REFERENCE

24.2 - NEW YORK WATERWAYS

24.3 - SPECIFIC STREAMS AND WATERBODIES - UNDER THE COMMON LAW

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 25 - FEDERAL CASES - CASE REFERENCES (ALSO SEE

SECTIONS 2.1 AND 2.3.1 THRU 2.3.8)

25.1 - CASE REFERENCE - MARTIN V. WADDELL 1842 - PUBLISHED CASE (NOT

FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.2 - CASE REFERENCE - POLLARD'S LESSEE V. HAGAN 1845

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.3 - CASE REFERENCE - GIBBONS V. OGDEN 1824 - PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT

FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.4 - CASE REFERENCE - THE PROPELLER GENESEE CHIEF V.

FITZHUGH – (1851) - PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.5 - CASE REFERENCE - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFFAPPELLEE, V. ASHLAND OIL AND TRANSPORTATION CO., A SUBSIDIARY OF ASHLAND OIL CO.,

INC., DEFENDANT (1974) - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.6 - CASE REFERENCE - CHANDLER-DUNBAR (1913) - PUBLISHED CASE -

(NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.7 – CASE REFERENCE - THE DANIEL BALL (1870) - - PUBLISHED CASE -

(NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.8 - CASE REFERENCE - THE MONTELLO (1874) - PUBLISHED CASE (NOT FOR

LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.9 - CASE REFERENCE - ECONOMY LIGHT & POWER CO. V. UNITED STATES -

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.10 - CASE REFERENCE - UNITED STATES V. HOLT STATE BANK

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.11 - CASE REFERENCE - UNITED STATES V. UTAH (1931)

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.12 - CASE REFERENCE - UNITED STATES V. APPALACHIAN ELECTRIC

POWER CO. (1940) - PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.13 - CASE REFERENCE – UTAH V. UNITED STATES (1971) -

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.14 - CASE REFERENCE - FPL ENERGY MAINE HYDRO LLC, PETITIONER, V.

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, RESPONDENT.

AMERICAN RIVERS, ET AL., INTERVENORS (2002) - PUBLISHED CASE -

(NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

25.15 - CASE REFERENCE - STATE OF ALASKA, PLAINTIFF- APPELLEE, V.

AHTNA, INC.; AND STA-KEH CORPORATION, DEFENDANTSAPPELLANTS, AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; WILLIAM CLARK,

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR; ROBERT PENFOLD, ALASKA STATE

DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES) - (1989)

SECTION 26 - THE LOCATION OF STATE BOUNDARY LINES WITHIN AND ALONG NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS

26. 1 - STATE OF ARKANSAS V. STATE OF TENNESSEE (1918) PUBLISHED CASE

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

26.2 – COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA V. STATE OF MARYLAND (OCT. TO DEC.

2003) – PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

26.3 – STATE OF NEW JERSEY V. STATE OF DELAWARE (JUNE 3, 1935)

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

SECTION 27 - PENNSYLVANIA CASE REFERENCES - CASE REFERENCES 27.1 THRU 27.5.1

27.1 - CASE REFERENCE - LAKESIDE PARK CO V. FORSMARK (1959)

PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

27.2 - CASE REFERENCE - PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY V.

MARITIME MANAGEMENT, INC. (1997) - PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL

PURPOSES)

27.2.1 - OUTLINE AND INTRODUCTION TO CASE: PENNSYLVANIA POWER &

LIGHT COMPANY, APPELLEE, V. MARITIME MANAGEMENT, INC., APPELLANT

27.2.2 - CASE - PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, APPELLEE, V.

MARITIME MANAGEMENT, INC., APPELLANT. PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL

PURPOSES)

27.2.3 - JUDGE KELLY WRITES HIS OPPOSING OPINION

27.2.4 - HIGHLIGHTS OF PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, APPELLEE,

V. MARITIME MANAGEMENT, INC., APPELLANT.

27.3 - CASE REFERENCE – LEHIGH FALLS FISHING CLUB APPELLANT V. JOHN

ANDREJEWSKI, APPELLEE, LEHIGH FALLS FISHING CLUB, APPELLEE

V. JOHN ANDREJEWSKI, APPELLANT (1999) PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL

PURPOSES)

27.4 - CASE REFERENCE – COMMONWEALTH V. FOSTER (1908) PUBLISHED CASE -

(NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

27.5 - CASE REFERENCE - THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF HUNTINGDON

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. - COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ET., AL, V. CONNIE L. ESPY T/D/B/A CAMP

ESPY FARMS, ET, AL. (2007) PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

27.5.1 - CASE REFERENCE - IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF HUNTINGDON

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CIVIL DIVISION COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF

CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT

COMMISSION, PLAINTIFFS.

VS.

CONNIE L. ESPY T/D/B/A CAMP ESPY FARMS,

DONALD L.BEAVER, JR., HIDDEN HOLLOW ENTER¬PRISES, INC., T/D/B/A

PARADISE OUTFITTERS, LEGACY CONSERVA¬TION GROUP, LLC, T/D/B/A SPRING

RIDGE CLUB, ANGLING FANTASIES, LLC, AND BELLWOOD- ANTIS ENTERPRISES,

INC., DEFENDANTS - PUBLISHED CASE - (NOT FOR LEGAL PURPOSES)

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