LITTORAL WATER RIGHTS

The equivalent of Riparian Water Rights for a lake, reservoir, or other non-flowing body of water. As with riparian water rights, littoral water rights allow persons who own land adjacent to a body of water to make reasonable use of those waters on lands within the watershed. Littoral users share the waters among themselves and the concept of priority use (Prior Appropriation Doctrine) is not applicable. Under drought conditions, the lake or waterfront users also share shortages. Littoral rights cannot be sold or transferred to use on other (nonriparian) lands. Also see Riparian Doctrine, Riparian Water Rights, Appropriative Water Rights, Prescribed Water Rights, and Reserved Water Rights.