United States Supreme Court settlements changed jurisdiction of the Ohio River from the exclusive jurisdiction of Kentucky to concurrent jurisdiction with the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois beginning in 1985. The Ohio Decree was entered on April 15, 1985 (
Ohio v. Kentucky, 471 U.S. 153); the Indiana Decree was entered on November 4, 1985 (
Indiana v. Kentucky, 474 U.S. 1); and, the Illinois opinion was decided on May 28, 1991 (
Illinois v. Kentucky, 500 U.S. 380, No. 106, Orig.). Similar shared jurisdiction does not exist between the states of Ohio and West Virginia. West Virginia has current jurisdiction of the Ohio River along the Ohio-West Virginia border. Learn more about
Ohio River regulations.