What are the various types of water rights?

Water rights in California are divided into two types: riparian rights and appropriative rights. Riparian rights are based on common law and pertain to landowners who are adjacent to a body of water, such as a river or stream. These rights are based on the principle that riparian landowners, i.e. those with land next to a body of water, have the right to use the water on their land only, and that they must not interfere with other landowners’ rights to use the same water. Appropriative rights, on the other hand, are granted and regulated by the state to those who are not riparian landowners and wish to take or divert water for a beneficial purpose. Appropriative rights are divided into two main types: pre-1914 rights and post-1914 rights. Pre-1914 rights are the oldest type of water right and are typically granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Post-1914 rights are more modern and are typically granted to public entities or private individuals for a specific beneficial use, such as agricultural, industrial, or recreational purposes. Both types of rights are subject to specific terms and conditions in order to ensure that all water users receive a fair and equitable share of the resource.

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What are the various types of water rights?

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