Waters of the United States

This lesson was written as a review of the material covered in the second part of Chapter 4 of the CALI e-book, Wetlands Law: A Course Source. The lesson reviews the regulations, policies, and case law interpreting the scope of federal jurisdiction over "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Court's decision in Sackett v. EPA.
2. Define "navigable waters" under the Clean Water Act.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the Court's ruling in United States v. Riverside Bayview, 474 U.S. 121 (1985).
4. Demonstrate an understanding of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. Army Corps of Engineers.
5. State the primary arguments of the majority, concurrence, and dissent of Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006).