(1) The following lands belong to the state of Montana to be held in trust for the benefit of the public schools of the state:
- (a) all islands existing in the navigable streams or lakes in this state that have not been surveyed by the government of the United States; and
- (b) all lands that at any time in the past constituted an island or part of an island in a navigable stream or lake.
- (2) This section does not apply to lands that are occupied by and belong to riparian landowners if the lands were formed by accretions.
- (3) State-owned riverbeds are public lands of the state that are held in trust for the people as provided in Article X, section 11, of the Montana constitution.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 36, L. 1937; R.C.M. 1947, 81-2301; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 371, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 210, L. 2013.