Who owns the middle of a non-navigable stream?

The middle of a non-navigable stream is owned by the adjacent landowner. This principle stems from the legal doctrine of riparian rights, which applies to the owners of land that is adjacent to a body of water. In the case of a non-navigable stream, the landowner whose property borders the stream is considered to have rights to the land up to the center of the stream. This means they have the authority to use the water, subject to reasonable use standards and without interfering with the rights of other landowners nearby.

In contrast, with navigable streams, ownership is generally more public, and the state holds certain rights to these waters. However, for non-navigable streams, the rights to the land in the middle reflect the understanding that the adjacent property owner has both ownership and rights over the waterway directly in front of their property. This legal framework underscores the importance of property boundaries and water rights in the context of land ownership.