Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam

What action causes water deposits on land?

1. Erosion

2. Accretion

3. Avulsion

4. Doctrine Of Prior Appropriation

The correct answer is: Accretion

The correct answer, which is accretion, refers to a natural process where waterborne sediments accumulate over time, leading to an increase in land area along a shoreline or riverbank. This occurs because water carries sediment and gradually deposits it in certain areas, allowing for the slow expansion of land. As this sediment layers build up, it creates new dry land over time, which is particularly evident in river deltas and coastal areas. Understanding the process of accretion is crucial in real estate, especially in situations concerning land rights and boundaries. Property owners may find themselves gaining land through accretion without any direct intervention when natural processes allow sediment to build up at the edges of their properties. The other options refer to different concepts. Erosion involves the wearing away of land due to wind or water, leading to a loss of land rather than the creation of new land. Avulsion pertains to a sudden change in land due to natural events, such as flooding or earthquakes, where land can be removed or changed quickly. The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation is a water law principle that grants rights to water to those who first use it, primarily in areas where water is limited and not directly related to land formation.