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These questions indicate complexities in the legal problems. 

 Additional basic legal principles, problems and trends, existing 

 at the State level, discussed in the preceding Chapter 2 on 

 Coastal States Responsibilities, Programs, and Roles. 



Public trust doctrines, the idea that wetlands and tidelands are 

 held by the State for the public'trust, generally have been 

 ineffective in preserving estuarial land from sale nor did they 

 prevent public uses from being foreclosed. Historically, tide- 

 lands were considered to be worthless property whose "reclamation" 

 was to be encouraged. In California, for example, the State 

 delegated ownership of much of San Francisco Bay to its bordering 

 counties who in turn sold the land to private developers for 

 industrial and other types of developments. In this atmosphere 

 of permissiveness, legislative "giveaways" were encouraged and 

 private owners easily obtained permission to wharf out or construct 

 piers and other structures in the tidelands. 



Lately, however, there has been a shift in public policy and a 

 recognition of the irreplaceable value of such areas. Stricter 

 regulations have been devised to limit use of these areas formerly 

 considered to be worthless. 



While the States generally control the uses of navigable waters, 

 local governments have been delegated the prime responsibility for 



