---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460aa–8"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460aa–8"
heading: "Federal-State water rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460aa-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LXXXV — Sawtooth National Recreation Area"
---

# §460aa–8. Federal-State water rights


The jurisdiction of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and the United States over waters of any stream included in the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be determined by established principles of law. Under the provisions of this subchapter, any [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) by the United States of a water right which is vested under either [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or Federal law at the time of enactment of this subchapter shall entitle the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) thereof to just compensation. Nothing in this subchapter shall constitute an express or implied claim or denial on the part of the Federal Government as to exemption from [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) water laws.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–400, § 9, Aug. 22, 1972, 86 Stat. 614.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Time of enactment of this subchapter, referred to in text, means Aug. 22, 1972, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 92–400, which enacted this subchapter.