33 CFR § 328.5 - Changes in limits of waters of the United States.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s328.5"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 328.5 - Changes in limits of waters of the United States."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "328.5"
section_name: "Changes in limits of waters of the United States."
chapter_name: "CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE"
part_number: "328"
part_name: "DEFINITION OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 1251"
regulatory_source: "51 FR 41250, Nov. 13, 1986, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "328"
---


# 328.5 Changes in limits of waters of the United States.

Permanent changes of the shoreline configuration result in similar alterations of the boundaries of waters of the United States. Gradual changes which are due to natural causes and are perceptible only over some period of time constitute changes in the bed of a waterway which also change the boundaries of the waters of the United States. For example, changing sea levels or subsidence of land may cause some areas to become waters of the United States while siltation or a change in drainage may remove an area from waters of the United States. Man-made changes may affect the limits of waters of the United States; however, permanent changes should not be presumed until the particular circumstances have been examined and verified by the district engineer. Verification of changes to the lateral limits of jurisdiction may be obtained from the district engineer.