What term describes the sudden loss of land due to flood or when a river changes course?

The term that describes the sudden loss of land due to a flood or when a river changes course is avulsion. This process occurs when water swiftly removes soil and sediment from one area, often leading to a significant alteration of the landscape. In the context of real estate and property rights, avulsion can have important implications, as landowners may lose part of their property suddenly due to these natural events.

In contrast, alluvion refers to the gradual accumulation of sediment deposited by water, which can actually increase land area over time. Accretion, similar to alluvion, is the process through which land is added gradually to a property through sedimentation. Dredging involves the removal of sediment and debris from a water body and is typically performed to deepen or widen navigable waterways, not to describe changes in land ownership or changes in land due to natural phenomena. Understanding these terms is crucial for anyone involved in real estate, particularly in areas susceptible to flooding or riverbank shifts.