Which term is used to describe the rights of a landowner to use the shore area of a lake or sea?

• A. Littoral Rights
• B. Riparian Rights
• C. Riparian-Rights Doctrine
• D. Public Trust Doctrine

Answer: (A)

Littoral rights describe the rights of a landowner whose property borders a standing body of water like a lake or the sea. These rights typically cover the use of the shore area up to the high-water mark, allowing actions such as placing a dock or enjoying access to the shore, while the water itself is generally owned by the state and subject to public and environmental rules. Riparian rights, in contrast, apply to land along flowing waters like rivers and streams, focusing on the use of the water itself and how rights are shared among nearby landowners. The Public Trust Doctrine deals with public rights in navigable waters and related resources, not private shore use. So, the term for shore rights along lakes or seas is littoral rights.