The constructing, deepening, widening, improving and maintaining of navigation canals, and navigation channels, and the deepening, widening, improving and maintaining of existing streams, lakes and other water courses for navigation purposes, and the acquiring of property for such purposes, including the acquiring of adjoining property for industrial development, but no part of which shall be more than one-half mile from the center of such canals, channels, streams, lakes, and other water courses are declared to be works of public improvement, the title to which shall vest in the public and for public purposes.
La. Navigation and Shipping § 34:361