Definition
Riparian rights are the legal rights of landowners whose property borders water. You have rights to reasonable water use and access to the waterline. The catch: these come with responsibilities—you can't harm downstream users or degrade the watercourse.
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Riparian rights include the right to reasonable water use, access, and use of the land to the waterline. Riparian owners have duties to not harm downstream users.
Pro Tip
If you have riparian rights, understand water use regulations in your state. Some states allow generous use; others are restrictive. Verify you can actually use the water you have rights to.
Example
A property with riparian rights to use river water for irrigation and livestock watering.