When Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959, the title to federal lands underlying navigable waterways transferred to state ownership. HRA is assisting the U.S. Department of Justice with historical research and expert witness testimony in litigation to determine whether the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Fortymile River in Alaska were navigable at the time of statehood. Historical research for the project includes investigating what types of vessels were commonly used for travel by water and whether the waterbodies at issue were ever used for water-based travel and commerce prior to or at the time of statehood.