Right Column

Sovereign Lands

California became a state on September 9, 1850, and thereby acquired nearly 4 million acres of land underlying the State's navigable and tidal waterways. Known as "Sovereign Lands", these lands included the beds of 1) more than 120 rivers, streams and sloughs; 2) nearly 40 non-tidal navigable lakes, such as Lake Tahoe and Clear Lake; 3) the tidal navigable bays and lagoons; and 4) the tide and submerged lands adjacent to the entire coast and offshore islands of the State from the mean high tide line to three nautical miles offshore. This watery domain, equal in size to Connecticut and Delaware combined, is managed by the California State Lands Commission.

The State holds its "sovereign lands" in Public Trust. They can only be used for public purposes consistent with provisions of the Public Trust such as fishing, water dependent commerce and navigation, ecological preservation and scientific study.