What term describes water rights associated with land that is adjacent to a watercourse?

The term that describes water rights associated with land adjacent to a watercourse is "Riparian." This concept is rooted in the legal framework that governs water use, particularly throughout the United States.

Riparian rights give landowners who have property along a river or stream the entitlement to access and use the water that flows adjacent to their land. These rights are typically based on the idea that water is a shared resource, and those who own land adjacent to a water source have the right to utilize it, as long as they don't significantly harm the rights of other riparian owners upstream or downstream.

This is distinct from appropriative rights, which involve obtaining rights to use water based on a permit system rather than proximity to a water source. Littoral rights similarly refer to rights associated with large bodies of water, like lakes or oceans, rather than flowing watercourses. The term "Exempt" does not apply to this context as it generally refers to certain exceptions in statutory applications, not directly tied to water rights based on land location.