While we do struggle to maintain access to waterfronts in the US, we do have a thing called the Public Trust Doctrine. Rooted in ancient Roman law that said that the rights to navigation, fishing, etc. belong to the public, the doctrine states that "navigable waters and the lands that lie beneath them" belong in the public trust. The part that is arguable, however, is to what extent the doctrine applies. When the waters are at high tide or flood stage? Or, the low water mark? (I would argue the former.)

Furthermore, here in Vermont at least, the law states that docks, etc. that extend significantly into the "public trust" areas can only be allowed if they serve the public good. Our threshold for review/permit is 75 feet.

Several years ago, a local oven-making manufacturer decided to build a 330-foot dock so that their execs could tie up their sailboats. The thing looked like a causeway extending into Lake Champlain. Seeing that, I decided to test the public trust doctrine and filed an appeal of the company's permits. I took a lot of flack from some, and got nicknamed "shorehugger" by others, but won the appeal. Blodgett Dock Sinks