Which best describes riparian rights?

Riparian rights pertain to the entitlements that landowners have regarding the use of water from a river or stream that borders their property. Specifically, these rights allow property owners to utilize water for purposes such as irrigation, recreational activities, and other lawful uses, but they are contingent on ownership of land adjacent to the waterway.

The correct descriptor is that riparian rights involve ownership extending to the high-water mark of a river, which delineates the point up to which the landowner has claim over the land where it might be subject to seasonal flooding. This delineation is vital because it establishes where the property rights end in relation to the flowing water, balancing the interests of the landowner with the public interest in water use and conservation.

Understanding this definition helps clarify the nature of property rights along water bodies, distinguishing them from other forms of land ownership and the rights associated with them. The other options presented do not encapsulate the specific nature of riparian rights accurately, focusing instead on ownership lines and activities that, while related to water, do not directly pertain to the landowner’s relationship to the water's edge.