Public Trust

Public Trust
The Public Trust is an ancient legal doctrine that protects our waters, coasts and the environments that depend upon them. The Public Trust Doctrine grants everyone the right of access to our coastlines, beaches, and rivers. It also imposes important obligations on government at all levels, as "trustee" of the trust lands, to protect those lands in perpetuity for all. ELF is exploring various legal avenues to preserve, protect and expand the public trust for generations yet unborn.

ELF is involved in public trust litigation in California, submitting an amicus curiae brief in support of the petitioners in Center for Biological Diversity, et al v. FPL, 166 Cal. App. 4th 1349 (2008), as well as pursuing litigation to expand the public trust to protect resources such as groundwater. In this way, ELF strives to establish the Public Trust Doctrine as a legal avenue to protect California’s water resources: providing vital habitats for endangered and special status fish and wildlife species, as well as securing the future for California’s sustainable fisheries and recreation. ELF is also working with the California Attorney General on a legal guide regarding access to rivers in California.

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