Legal Definitions - stream

Definition: A stream is any liquid that flows in a line or course. It is usually a current of water that has a bed, bank, and watercourse. It may empty into other bodies of water but still maintains its character even if it breaks up or disappears.

Example: A river is a type of stream. It has a bed, banks, and a watercourse that flows in a line or course. It may empty into other bodies of water, such as an ocean or lake, but it still maintains its character as a river.

Private Stream: A private stream is a watercourse that is exclusively owned by private parties. This means that the bed, channel, or waters of the stream are not owned by the government or the public, but by individuals or organizations.

Example: A private stream can be a small creek that runs through someone's backyard. The bed, banks, and watercourse of the creek are owned by the homeowner and not accessible to the public.

The examples illustrate the definition of a stream by showing that it is a liquid that flows in a line or course, has a bed, bank, and watercourse, and may empty into other bodies of water. The private stream example shows that some streams can be owned by private parties and not accessible to the public.