| Riparian rights, also known as littoral rights or | | | | have the right to protect property from both |
| riparian water rights, is a system of allocating | | | | flooding and erosion, these activities are often |
| water when multiple landowners possess land | | | | subject to approval by various environmental |
| around the source of the water. With origins in | | | | agencies. Those with property next to a |
| English common law, Riparian rights exist in many | | | | waterway also have the duty to allow the water |
| countries, including Canada and Australia, as well as | | | | to pass freely from one property to another, |
| many states within the United States, particularly | | | | without pollution or diversion affecting the rights |
| in the eastern half of the country. | | | | of other landholders. Landowners also have the |
| The general principle of riparian water rights holds | | | | responsibility to maintain the bed and banks of the |
| that all landowners with property adjacent to a | | | | watercourse, including keeping the area clear of |
| body of water (such as a lake or river) have the | | | | debris or obstructions. |
| right to make reasonable use of this water. This | | | | Due to small frontage, some lots receive a very |
| not only includes water up to the boundaries of a | | | | small portion of water allocation, perhaps not |
| submerged property line, but also additional rights | | | | enough to make use of the water without conflict |
| to water beyond the property line. If the amount | | | | with adjoining property owners. The configuration |
| of water is not enough to satisfy all landowners, | | | | of the shoreline can affect riparian rights. In some |
| allotments of the water are usually made in | | | | cases, the entire waterway is apportioned, while in |
| proportion to the amount of land directly abutting | | | | others, only the water near the shore is |
| the water's source, or the shoreline. In general, | | | | apportioned. The method use depends on the size |
| those owning land adjacent to the waterway are | | | | of the lake or width of the waterway, among |
| also assumed to own the land up to the center | | | | other factors. |
| point of the waterway, unless land deeds state | | | | An owner's riparian rights, along with title to land |
| otherwise. This, however, may not be true if the | | | | along the river or lake, is dependent upon |
| waterway is navigable by boat. In this case, the | | | | accurate knowledge of the property. Because |
| average low water mark is the line used to | | | | water flows can affect the course of the |
| determine land ownership. In many states, land | | | | shoreline over time, land surveys are often |
| below this mark belongs to the state government. | | | | required to determine the exact property |
| Riparian rights may include such activities as | | | | boundaries. In Public Land Survey System areas, a |
| swimming, boating, and fishing, the right to build a | | | | Meander Corner Monument or MC was set at |
| wharf out to a point of aquatic navigability, the | | | | each point where a section line intersected a river |
| right to erect docks and piers and the right to use | | | | or lake. However, a survey of the coastline or |
| the water for household needs. The rights to this | | | | shoreline area may show that there is more or |
| water cannot be sold or transferred, unless the | | | | less exposed land than seen on a previous map |
| adjoining land is also transferred. The water | | | | or survey. Natural phenomena such as storms, |
| cannot be transported outside of the immediate | | | | particularly hurricanes, can drastically change these |
| area. | | | | boundaries, affecting the applicable riparian rights |
| Although those living adjacent to a waterway | | | | and often requiring a new survey. |