What do the terms littoral, riparian, and appropriative refer to?

The terms littoral, riparian, and appropriative specifically relate to water rights, indicating how different types of water resources can be used and managed.

Littoral rights pertain to properties bordering large bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans, allowing the property owner to use the water for activities like swimming or boating, as well as incorporating the enjoyment of the land adjacent to the water.

Riparian rights apply to properties that have a watercourse, such as rivers or streams, providing the owner the right to make reasonable use of the water, as long as it does not negatively impact other users upstream or downstream.

Appropriative rights are based on the doctrine of "first in time, first in right," where water is allocated to the user who first takes it for beneficial use, even if they are not adjacent to the water source. This is especially relevant in arid regions where water is scarce.

These concepts illustrate vital aspects of water management and property law, highlighting the legal entitlements related to the use of water resources flowing near or across land, which is crucial for real estate transactions and development.