riparian right

noun

: a right (such as access to or use of the shore, bed, and water) of one owning riparian land

Examples of riparian right in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The legislation expressly authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to investigate all water rights claims — including riparian rights and pre-1914 rights — and to determine whether the rights are valid. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023 California still recognizes water rights based on those old claims, as well as riparian rights based on land ownership next to rivers and streams. Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023 The board has indicated that, because conditions are so dry, restrictions will likely be extended to water users with pre-1914 water rights as well as those with land adjacent to a waterway, known as a riparian right. Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'riparian right.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riparian right was circa 1860

Dictionary Entries Near riparian right

Cite this Entry

“Riparian right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riparian%20right. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Legal Definition

riparian right

noun
: the right of one owning riparian land to have access to and use of the shore and water

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