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Part of Shorelands

Rivers and streams

Rivers and streams can change course over time, and affect land ownership boundaries.

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Overview

Rivers and streams are dynamic landscape features. They move across floodplains by:

  • depositing sediment (accretion)
  • undercutting and eroding banks (erosion)

Erosion and accretion are natural processes and usually occur slowly over time. As a river moves, so do its natural boundaries. Flooding may cause sudden changes in a river or stream course. But the location of ownership boundaries does not change.

The Crown generally owns the beds and shores of rivers and streams. For information on exceptions, see:

Previous Approvals and regulatory requirements
Next Water boundaries