A Riparian is a person who owns a parcel of land which borders a natural body of water within the boundaries of the State of Michigan.

WHAT RIGHTS DOES A RIPARIAN HAVE?

1. Access to navigable waters.
2. Dockage to boatable waters.
3. Use of the water for general purposes, such as bathing and domestic use.
4. Title to natural accretions.
5. Ownership of the bottomland to the middle thread of the lake. .

WHAT ACTIVITIES BY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY OWNER REQUIRE A STATE PERMIT?

1. Any actions which would deny other riparians and members of the public the full use of the lake surface for navigational purposes. ****
2. Dredging or filling bottomland.
3. Constructing, enlarging, extending, removing, or placing a structure on bottomland.
4. Erecting, maintaining or operating a marina.
5. Creating, enlarging or diminishing an inland lake or stream.
6. Structurally interfering with the natural flow of an inland lake or stream.
7. Filling or dredging a wetland contiguous to a lake.
8. Connecting any natural or artificial waterway to an inland lake or stream.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RIPARIANS AND THEIR RIGHTS, CONTACT MICHIGAN LAKE AND STREAM ASSOCIATIONS AT:

124 1/2 Main St., P.O. Box 249, Three Rivers, MI 49093
Phone (616) 273-8200
Fax (616) 273-2919
EMAIL info@mlswa.org

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