What is the primary characteristic of riparian rights?

Riparian rights are a legal doctrine associated with landowners whose property is adjacent to a body of water, particularly navigable waters such as rivers and lakes. The fundamental characteristic of riparian rights is that they are conferred to property owners who border or are situated directly next to these water bodies, allowing them certain usage rights related to the water source.

Being adjacent to navigable waters is crucial, as it establishes the connection between the land and the water. This proximity grants the landowner rights to access, use, and enjoy the water for purposes such as fishing or irrigation, but it also stipulates that these rights may be regulated to ensure fair usage between multiple landowners.

In contrast, exclusive associations only with riverbanks or water bodies like lakes and oceans don't fully encompass the broader application of riparian rights, which specifically emphasize navigability. Although trading or selling these rights can occur under certain circumstances, this is not a defining feature of riparian rights themselves, but rather an aspect of property law.