Water Law: Regulated Riparianism and the Florida Water Law System

This lesson looks at the modern form of riparian rights, known as regulated riparianism, through the lens of Florida's Water Resources Act. It provides a brief review of the traditional common-law law riparian regime for water rights, then explores the reasons that eastern states have chosen to switch to regulated riparianism and some of the details of the Florida water law system.

Students undertaking this lesson should be familiar with common-law riparianism and its weaknesses. Some familiarity with the Florida approach is helpful but not necessary.