Riparian (Water Law)

 

 

Public Sector

Water and water-related resources are becoming increasingly important to the residents of Michigan.  Lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands also play a very important role in our economy and recreational opportunities.

Given increased development pressures involving lakes, rivers, and streams throughout Michigan, increasing waterfront property values, and similar factors, legal conflicts involving riparian properties are increasing.  Our Riparian (Water Law) Practice Group provides legal services to a wide variety of clients regarding important riparian issues and conflicts.  Our clients include individuals, lake and other property associations, municipalities, firms, and other groups.  This is a highly specialized area of the law, for which general legal practitioners are frequently unfamiliar.

Specific areas in which we advise and represent clients include:

Riparian laws in general
Cottages, cabins, hunting lands, and lake property
Real estate law
Estate planning and trusts
Keeping recreational property in the family
Docks
Boundary disputes
Environmental law
Court action/litigation
Road ends
Easements, walkways, parks, and other lake accesses
Associations
Aquatic weed treatment and special assessment districts
Condominiums
Opposing lake developments
DEQ/DNR (now, the DNRE)
Zoning and planning
Ordinances/local government
Lake levels
Plat vacations/revisions
Lake boards
Contracts
Water withdrawals
Conservation easements
Wetlands

The firm also maintains a separate web site dedicated to riparian law:

www.michiganriparian.com

Cliff Bloom's Riparian/Water Law Articles and Other Publications