What is a Riparian Water Right?

A Riparian Water Right refers to the legal entitlement that homeowners or property owners have to use water from a natural water source, such as a river, stream, or lake, that is adjacent to their land. This principle is based on the idea that individuals who own land abutting a water body have a shared responsibility and right to access and use that water for reasonable purposes, such as irrigation, recreation, or domestic use. The rights are typically not transferrable and must be exercised in a way that does not harm other riparian owners.

This concept is vital for understanding water rights in the context of natural resource management and environmental law, as it governs how water can be used by those whose properties are located adjacent to these water bodies.