Which right allows property owners to use water from a river or lake?

The correct choice is associated with the concept of riparian rights, which specifically pertains to properties adjacent to rivers and lakes. These rights grant landowners the ability to use water from these natural bodies for purposes such as irrigation, livestock, and sometimes consumption, as long as their use does not harm the water quality or the rights of other riparian owners. Riparian rights are grounded in the principle that the water belongs to the landowners whose property is adjacent to the water source.

In contrast, surface rights refer broadly to the rights to use and benefit from the surface of a property but do not specifically include the rights to use water from nearby bodies of water. Subjacent rights involve the rights of a landowner to the minerals and resources located beneath the property, while percolating rights pertain to the use of groundwater located beneath one’s own land. Thus, riparian rights uniquely pertain to the use of water from rivers and lakes, making it the appropriate choice for this question.