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Riparian water rights (or simply riparian rights) is a system for allocating water among those who possess land along its path. It has its origins in English common law . Riparian water rights exist in many jurisdictions with a common law heritage, such as Canada , Australia , New Zealand , and states in the eastern United States .
From these sources, but largely from civil-law sources, the inquisitive and powerful minds of Chancellor Kent and Mr. Justice Story drew in generating the basic doctrines of American water law. The riparian concept developed fully in those portions of the United States where lands were amply watered by rainfall. United States v. Gerlach, supra.
For example, under English common law, any rights asserted to "moveable and wandering" water must be based upon rights to the "permanent and immovable" land below. [2] On streams and rivers, these are referred to as riparian rights or littoral rights, which are protected by property law. Legal principles long recognized under riparian ...
The distinction between avulsion and accretion becomes important if a river forms the boundary between two riparian owners. In many jurisdictions, if the river changes channels by avulsion, the boundary does not change but remains in the middle of the old channel.
California and Texas grant waterfront property owners water allocations prior to any other users, in a hybrid system with riparian water rights. [5] [12] In Oregon, landowners have rights to water on their own land at a certain time at which it is then incorporated into the appropriation system. [13] [failed verification]
Commodore Park, Inc., 324 U.S. 386 (1945), even though the market value of the riparian owner's land is substantially diminished. The navigational servitude of the United States does not extend into fast lands, which are lands above the high-water mark. Consequently, when fast lands are taken by the Government, just compensation must be paid.
The English common law system was adopted by California in 1850. [2] [3] With regards to water rights, English common law specifies that landowners have the right to the water that runs through or adjacent to their property for reasonable household purposes as long as their use does not interfere with the rights of other riparian land owners.
Littoral rights are usually concerned with the use and enjoyment of the shore, [1] but also may include rights to use the water similar to riparian rights. An owner whose property abuts tidal waters (i.e. oceanfront) owns the land to the mean low water line or 100 rods below mean high water, whichever is less.