In Oklahoma, who owns the bed of a navigable river?

Ownership of the bed of a navigable river in Oklahoma belongs to the State of Oklahoma. This principle is based on the understanding that navigable waters are public resources, and the state holds the title to the land beneath these rivers for the benefit of the public. This is consistent with the public trust doctrine, which asserts that waterways should be accessible for public use, but the state also has the responsibility to manage and conserve these resources.

In contrast, the federal government does not hold title to the riverbed; rather, it oversees navigable waters for interstate commerce and environmental protections. Local municipalities generally do not have ownership claims over these riverbeds either, as their jurisdiction is limited to local affairs and not extending to state-owned resources. Private landowners may own land adjacent to navigable rivers but do not have rights to the riverbed itself, as it is under state ownership to ensure public access and use.