Riparian owners' rights to rivers or streams are based on which principle?

Riparian owners' rights to rivers or streams stem from the principle that ownership of land adjacent to a watercourse grants the owner certain rights to the water itself. This doctrine allows owners of land that touches a stream or river to access and make reasonable use of the water. The rationale is that the land and the water are intrinsically linked, meaning those who own land bordering a body of water also have rights related to that water.

This principle is rooted in the concept that since the land and water coexist, the owner has the right to benefit from the natural resource as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of other riparian owners. This is a key aspect of water rights and is widely recognized in property law.

While other options reference permits and legal frameworks, riparian rights fundamentally derive from the property ownership of the land adjacent to the water, making the ownership status the basis for those rights.