V-107 



to the low water mark. Thus, in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland 

 claims all the coastal land from the mean high tide mark 

 while Virginia asserts its ownership only from the mean 

 low tide. 



Standards of measurement also frequently differ. Louis- 

 iana measures from the highest winter tide and Texas 

 from the mean higher tide. Further complications arise 

 from the fact that, even if precise and standardized 

 measurements are used, tidal characteristics vary from 

 coast to coast. 



(3) Outer Limits Claims -- While State territorial 

 boundaries are generally considered to extend only out 

 to 3 miles, some States exert claims to waters beyond 

 this limit, Louisiana, for example, claims up to 27 

 miles and Texas up to the outer edges of the Continental 

 Shelf. 



(4) Extent of Delegated Powers -- Most States delegate 

 the responsibility for the use of land above the high 

 water mark to their municipalities and counties. However, 

 a few like Hawaii stress Statewide zoning and reserve 

 this prerogative to the State. In general, there is a 

 wide variation in the extent of home rule granted by 



each State to its localities. 



In conclusion, the boundaries of private property in tidelands 



