If a deed states the boundary line is along a non-navigable stream, where is the boundary line located?

The boundary line of a property that is described as along a non-navigable stream is typically considered to be at the center of the stream. This convention stems from common law principles governing property rights adjacent to water bodies. In the case of non-navigable streams, the landowner usually owns up to the central point of the stream bed.

This delineation ensures that the landowner has control over the land next to the water, which can be important for various reasons, including access, maintenance, and the use of resources. Unlike navigable waters, where boundary lines are usually determined by the high-water mark, non-navigable streams follow different rules in determining property boundaries.

In contrast, the other options describe different potential interpretations of boundary lines, but they are not applicable for a non-navigable stream under these circumstances. The high-water mark and riverbank would typically apply to navigable waters, as land adjacent to those bodies of water is defined differently. A distance from the bank, such as a quarter mile, would not be a common measurement in land deeds relating to non-navigable streams, which are generally dealt with on a case-by-case basis and focused on the center of the stream as the boundary.