What are Riparian Rights?

Riparian rights refer specifically to the rights of landowners whose property is adjacent to a water source, such as a stream, river, or lake. These rights typically grant the landowner the ability to use and manage the water for purposes such as irrigation, recreation, and domestic use, as long as the use does not negatively impact neighboring properties or the water source itself. These principles are grounded in the idea that access to water is crucial for various activities and livelihoods.

The other options provided do not accurately describe riparian rights. For instance, rights associated with land bordering a street are not related to water use but rather to the use of land and access to public thoroughfares. Property rights regarding scenic views pertain to a different aspect of property rights, focusing on what a property owner can see from their land rather than access to water. Lastly, ownership rights over neighboring properties do not encompass riparian rights, as those rights are specific to the relationship between the land and the adjacent waterway, rather than the rights related to other parcels of land. Therefore, identifying option B is justified, as it directly captures the essence of riparian rights as they pertain to land bordering water bodies.