Avulsion (common law jurisdictions)

In real property law, avulsion refers to a sudden loss of land, which results from the action of water.

It differs from accretion, which describes a gradual addition to land resulting from the action of water.

The distinction between avulsion and accretion becomes important if a river forms the boundary between two riparian owners.

[2] Avulsion can also affect littoral owners through events like hurricanes that can rapidly erode a shoreline.

[3] Florida courts have determined that littoral owners have the right to all the land that they had previous to the avulsive event.