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Environmental Science

The Public Trust Doctrine and Natural Resource Management

Quick fact

In the United States, the public trust doctrine stems from English common law and was strengthened by the Supreme Court's 1892 decision in Illinois Central Railroad v. Illinois, which held that the state cannot permanently abdicate its duty to protect public rights in navigable waters.

Why this is interesting

Imagine owning a lake. Could you drain it, fence it off, or build a private resort? In many places, the law says no—because the water itself belongs to the public.