Do you own the river if it runs through your property?

22 comments

1. [Maybe.](https://www.leathesprior.co.uk/news/three-things-you-should-know-if-you-own-property-near-a-river)

   Tidal rivers are owned by the crown, the riverbed of non-tidal rivers would be presumed to be owned by the landlowners.

2. For Scotland, you would own the bed of the river (assuming it’s non-tidal) but you wouldn’t own the water and the public would have access rights to use the river (the “right to roam”).

3. I used to go canoeing in the 80s, and I recall the organizer had to seek permission from the landowners before we could canoe certain rivers.

4. I have a bit of land in Spain, right on a river/stream. Here, watercourses can’t be privately owned but belong to the watershed administrator. It depends on how big a river it is but they officially own the land ten metres from the centre of the river on either side. Theoretically you can’t restrict public access to a river, either (in practice many are fenced off). So I would guess it depends on the jurisdiction.

5. What you do own outright are all the rivers on all the exo-planets in a cone starting as a point in the centre of the earth, running through your land, and extending outwards to the edge of the universe.

6. I think all waterways are maintained by the Environment Agency – not sure if they own the waterways too. The deeds to the property will tell you.

7. If you are in England and it’s a designated a main river you are a riparian owner and have responsibility for it – any works within 8m will require a flood risk activity permit from the EA – if it’s a ordinary watercourse it’s the responsibility of the lead local flood authority – either way there are limitations on what you can do with/to it.

8. If you own the land on both sides of the river you own the section of river. If you own the land on one side of the river then you own up to the centre line of the river bed. Unless your deeds say otherwise. That said if the river erodes your side and moves then you lose that land and your neighbour gains. Or vice versa. Its called Riparian ownership.

   The EA or NRW dont generally own the rivers but do have permissive powers to carry out maintenance. They are not obliged to though.

9. In England and Wales you have what is called “riparian ownership”. You own the land but not the water. This gives you some of the rights of an owner, such as controlling access, but with some limitations such as not being to dam or divert the river.

10. Depends on what you mean by river. You can own the banks and waterbed but never the water and sometimes only one side of the bank with or without access rights for others. Your deeds will make clear.

11. The trick is to sell it before the flood subsides and you lose it.

12. This comes up in the new series of the Alan Partridge Podcast.
    He takes great delight in telling a landowner exactly what his swimming rights are.

13. I have a Beck that runs through my property that I own as private property

14. Someone told me the land owner owns the bank. They used to fish from a bridge to avoid paying. Not sure how true it was.

15. It’s not possible to own a river. Rivers belong to fish and FISH BELONG TO NO ONE.

16. You can start your own streaming service.

17. Ask the fucking and birds if you own it!!!!

18. Yes, and the neighbour downstream of you is constantly stealing your water. Call the police on him. This is getting out of hand.

19. You would own the land that is under the river but not the water that flows over that land.

20. Ooooo i hate skinwalkers. My acquaintance saw one in northern New Mexico one night

21. No it’s still for whatever the Beaver damn well pleases.

22. According to Pocahontas
    “You can own the Earth and still
    All you’ll own is Earth until
    You can paint with all the colors of the wind”