Alluvion is a term used in the law and refers to a slow, gradual increase in land due to accretion, avulsion, or reliction (the natural and gradual process of water depositing sediment). In other words, alluvion can occur when sediment is deposited by a river or other body of water, sometimes due to changes in the natural environment and other times due to human interaction with the environment. This increases the amount of land under the control of the relevant party. It can be a growing source of income for landowners.
Examples of Alluvion
An example of alluvion can be found in the Netherlands, where much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea. This was a gradual process whereby sediment was deposited overtime, slowly reclaiming ocean land and forming new land. In the contemporary landscape, alluvion can also be found when rivers, streams, and other bodies of water are regulated, requiring sediment to be deposited in a controlled environment. This is a common practice for shoreline restorations and other flood mitigating strategies.
How Alluvion Benefits Business Professionals
Alluvion is a useful tool for businesses that have vested interests in land and its resources. By keeping an eye on their properties, business professionals can benefit from alluvion and the gradual accretion of land over time, which can increase their returns from the property if it is used commercially or for other investments. Alluvion can also be used to help prevent or manage coastal erosion, which can require expensive and disruptive repairs otherwise.
Conclusion
Alluvion is an important concept that business professionals should understand and be familiar with. Alluvion usually describes the accretion of land from slow, natural processes such as river sedimentation, and can be viewed as a growing income source or a tool to manage coastal erosion, depending on the exact context. Understanding alluvion can improve the outcomes of any business that is dealing with land or its resources.