In early August, the State of North Carolina, in behalf of the North Carolina Department of Administration, filed suit against Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. claiming the State's ownership of  "certain lands submerged beneath the waters of [North Carolina's] Yadkin River along an approximately 38-mile stretch of that River ...."

The lawsuit, viewable here, is filed in state court.  The State's release about the lawsuit is viewable here. 

The history tale is interesting, and is recounted to some degree in the complaint. 

The "present" fight between the State and Alcoa has continued since 2008, when Alcoa applied to the State for a new 50-year license to operate the Yadkin River Project and its dams. That application is on hold, pending Alcoa receiving a water quality certificate from the State. Alcoa initially received the certificate in May 2009, but the certificate was later revoked in 2010 after the Division of Water Resources (then, the "Division of Water Quality") said Alcoa submitted inaccurate data.

The State denied Alcoa's second attempt at the water quality certificate because of the “ownership dispute” now at the center of the lawsuit.  

Alcoa has indicated it will seek to remove the lawsuit to federal court, with an Alcoa spokespersonreported as stating, "Ownership of submerged lands is a question of federal law."

If the State has its way, the sign will read "Not Owned, but certainly Operated by ..."