474 U.S. 121 (1985)
United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc.
Does the Clean Water Act authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to require permits for the discharge of fill material into wetlands adjacent to traditional navigable waters?
The Clean Water Act provides that the term 'navigable waters' includes wetlands that are adjacent to navigable waters and thus can fall under federal regulatory jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court held that the Clean Water Act does authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to require permits for the discharge of fill material into wetlands adjacent to navigable waters.
Riverside Bayview Homes v. United States is a foundational case that set the precedent for the interpretation of the Clean Water Act regarding wetland regulation. It affirmed the Federal Government's authority to regulate non-navigable wetlands adjacent to navigable waters, thereby expanding environmental protections and establishing the principle of deference to agency interpretation concerning complex environmental regulations. This decision has had a lasting impact on the legal landscape of environmental law in the United States and continues to influence ongoing debates and litigation about the Clean Water Act's scope, particularly as it pertains to wetlands.