Property Ownership
Under West Virginia law, when an owner of property that adjoins a stream owns to the center of the stream (riparian ownership), they have:
AThe right to divert the entire stream for personal use
BRiparian rights — reasonable use of the water without unreasonably interfering with other riparian owners✓ Correct
CNo ownership interest in the stream itself
DThe right to sell access to the water to any party
Explanation
West Virginia follows the riparian rights doctrine. Landowners who adjoin a waterway have the right to reasonable use of the water, subject to not unreasonably diminishing the rights of other riparian landowners upstream or downstream.
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