Property Ownership

Riparian rights in Illinois give property owners who border a waterway the right to:

AOwn the full width of the waterway to the opposite bank
BReasonable use of the water adjacent to their property✓ Correct
CDivert the waterway to irrigate their land regardless of impacts on others
DExclude the public from all access to the waterway

Explanation

Under riparian rights doctrine, property owners adjacent to a natural waterway have the right to make reasonable use of the water, provided they do not unreasonably interfere with other riparian owners' rights. Riparian owners typically own to the midpoint of the waterway (or to the bank if it is a navigable waterway).

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