What is the doctrine of public trust?

The doctrine of public trust is a legal concept that is used to protect the public’s access to certain resources, such as navigable waters in Virginia. It is based on the principle that natural resources belong to the public and should be managed and conserved for their enjoyment and use by present and future generations. This principle has been around for centuries, but it was in the 1800s that the U.S. Supreme Court first recognized it. The doctrine of public trust holds that water resources, such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and streams, should not be privatized and are to be enjoyed by all members of the public. The public trust also states that these resources should be managed for the common good and not for the benefit of any individual or private interest. This means that the state of Virginia has the duty to protect the public’s access to navigable waters and to regulate the use of water by private interests. The Virginia Water Law requires that any person who wishes to use water within the state must obtain a permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The permit will specify how much water can be taken, when it can be taken, and for what purpose. This law is in place to ensure that the public has access to water and to prevent overuse of the resource.

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What is the doctrine of public trust?

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