Andrew007
New Member
Access to water isn't the same as ownership of that section of land. Property lines typically do not move when the water level drops or rises though they may be guaranteed the ability to pass over and use the newly exposed land to access the water.
The exposed land will normally be under federal ownership. There is also a good chance the lake already had a ring around it under federal ownership before the water level dropped which the adjacent property owners were allowed to use.
For those of us living in Ontario, all your facts are rubbish.
By definition in Ontario, a riparian owns to the water's edge. If the water recedes or rises, by natural processes, then the riparian gains or loses land accordingly, so title to any newly exposed land belongs to the riparian and not the Crown. Under navigable waters in Ontario, the bed is Crown land which is owned by the Queen in the right of the Ontario and not in the right of Canada as you imply when you says its "federal". When you speak of a ring of land under "federal ownership" I assume you are referring to the 66 foot road allowance that one finds on most but not all Township surveys in 'new Ontario' on lands fronting on navigable waterways. Title to this provincial Crown land is vested in the Township upon incorporation of the Township. Many Townships have been selling these lands to the abutting owners and when purchased these lands are typically registered to the water's edge making their owner a riparian.
I should add that being a riparian grant's one many rights vis-a-vis the submerged Crown land and water access which the public at large do not enjoy.
Finally, nearly all waterfront lands on navigable waterways in "old Ontario" including Toronto were patented to the water's edge making their owners riparians. Many riparians have further enhanced their rights by obtaining licenses of occupation or leasing or even purchasing some of the submerged Crown land abutting their properties thus creating a water lot in front of their properties.