What are littoral rights associated with?

Littoral rights refer to the rights of landowners whose properties are adjacent to oceans, lakes, or seas. These rights generally involve the use and enjoyment of the water and may include access for recreational purposes, fishing, and the ability to build structures near the shoreline, such as docks or piers. Littoral rights ensure that landowners can benefit from the resources of large bodies of water while also recognizing the limitations imposed by state law concerning public navigation and environmental protection.

Landowners next to rivers typically engage with riparian rights, which govern the use of flowing water. Privately owned lakes would not fall under the concept of littoral rights in the same sense, as these would pertain to water bodies that are not subject to the same public use and environmental laws as oceans and larger lakes. Groundwater extraction is governed by separate laws concerning subsurface water rights, distinct from littoral rights, which focus on surface waters. Therefore, the association of littoral rights specifically with property adjacent to oceans, lakes, or seas captures the correct context of this legal concept.