Utah Ex Rel. Div. of Foresty, Fire & State v. United States

HENRY, Chief Judge.

The State of Utah, by and through its Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (Utah), filed this quiet title action against the United States and private landowners pursuant to the Federal Quiet Title Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2409(a), and state law. Utah asserted title to the lakebed of Utah Lake, a navigable body of freshwater west of Provo that covers 150 square miles. See Utah Div. of State Lands v. United States, 482 U.S. 193, 198, 107 S.Ct. 2318, 96 L.Ed.2d 162 (1987). Utah based its claims upon the equal footing doctrine, under which the State automatically acquired…