Energy Environmental Blog

Ohio Supreme Court Makes Ruling on Property Rights Along Lake Erie

Written by Kristin Watt | Sep 15, 2011 1:15:43 PM

Yesterday the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed a 1878 decision in a dispute between the state and private property owners who border the Lake Erie shoreline.  The Court held that "the public trust in Lake Erie extends to the natural shoreline, which is the line at which the water usually stands when free from disturbing causes."   The court rejected the idea the the boundary is a movable line that changes moment to moment.  The decision, Merrill v. ODNR, can be found here.