77-1-102: Ownership of certain islands and riverbeds.

(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.