Ppl Montana, LLC v. Montana

Summary

The Supreme Court reversed the Montana Supreme Court's judgment affirming State title to certain riverbeds under the equal-footing doctrine. The Court held that navigability for title purposes must be determined segment-by-segment at the time of statehood, and that overland portage indicates non-navigability. The Court rejected reliance on present-day recreational use without evidence of historical similarity. Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion; there were no dissenting opinions.