Judge peers to US independence as NC fights Alcoa dams title
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) – A judge is considering who owns the riverbed under four North Carolina dams by hearing about American Revolutionary troop movements and complaints of Colonial-era settlers.
U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle opened a non-jury trial Tuesday as North Carolina challenges whether Alcoa Inc. had property rights to build the dams beginning a century ago.
Boyle started by hearing ancient descriptions to decide whether boats could navigate the Yadkin River when the U.S gained independence. The issue is important because that’s when the 13 original states took control of navigable rivers.
A former North Carolina state historian said letters and petitions described the river as navigable before and after statehood. A company scientist testified it was too rocky and steep.
Alcoa now sells electricity from the dams after closing an aluminum smelter in 2007.
