Opinion ID: 6536839
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Right to use

Text: Article VIII, § 16 of the Alaska Constitution establishes a right to common use of public and navigable state waters that protects a riparian and littoral landowner's right to use the water abutting the land: No person shall be involuntarily divested of his right to the use of waters ... except for a superior beneficial use or public purpose and then only with just compensation and by operation of law. 52 We noted in Classen that the decision in Wernberg implied that [this language] is coterminous with riparian rights. 53 Thus, a riparian or littoral landowner has an individual property interest in the use of water abutting his or her land, but we have never specified what types of uses this may include. 54 Other jurisdictions have upheld a riparian right to use water for recreational purposes. 55 We need not specify types of uses allowed because a reasonable use rule allows for a riparian or littoral landowner to use the abutting waters in any lawful way so long as that use is reasonable.