The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that the Lake Michigan shoreline is public property. In a landmark case, the court ruled 4-0 that state-owned land extends up to the ordinary high water mark. This means private property owners cannot claim sections of beach between their homes and the water as private. Under the ruling, the court states that Lake Michigan was granted to the state of Indiana at statehood, and thus belongs to all residents. The ruling says that walking on the beach, at a minimum, is a protected public use. Upon publication, it had not been decided if this ruling would be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Shoreline Photo by Tom Gill
