Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

How does a riparian or littoral owner lose title to their land?

1. Accretion

2. Avulsion

3. Erosion

4. Reliction

The correct answer is: Erosion

A riparian or littoral owner loses title to their land primarily through erosion. Erosion is the gradual wearing away of land due to natural forces such as water and wind. When erosion occurs at the shoreline of a water body, the land owned by the riparian or littoral owner can slowly be lost to the water. This process can lead to a situation where a property line effectively changes over time, causing the owner to lose legal title to the land that has eroded away. Understanding the implications of erosion is crucial, as it can impact land ownership rights significantly. Landowners often have to monitor their properties for signs of erosion to protect their interests. The other processes mentioned, such as accretion and avulsion, work differently; for example, accretion leads to the gradual addition of land, while avulsion refers to a sudden change that does not typically result in loss of title.