Someone who owns property along a river typically has which type of rights?

The correct answer, riparian rights, refers specifically to the entitlements that property owners have when they own land that borders a body of water, such as a river. These rights allow the owner to make reasonable use of the water that flows past their property. Riparian rights are inherent to landowners whose property meets the water's edge, allowing them to access and use the water for various purposes, including irrigation, recreational activities, and more, without infringing on the rights of upstream or downstream users.

Understanding riparian rights is crucial because they govern the relationship between private property and water resources. For instance, these rights are typically subject to the principle of reasonable use, which means that while property owners can use the water, their use should not harm other riparian owners.

The other options, while related to water rights, do not apply in the case of owning property adjacent to a river. Appropriative rights pertain to water users who divert water from its natural source for beneficial use, which usually doesn't consider the land's proximity to the water. Littoral rights, on the other hand, apply to properties that border tidal bodies of water like lakes or oceans. Principal is not a recognized type of water rights. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the