What does "Accretion" refer to in land surveying?

Accretion refers to the gradual accumulation of land due to natural processes, particularly through the action of water. This process occurs when sediment carried by water bodies, like rivers or lakes, settles over time, resulting in an increase in land area. In land surveying, understanding accretion is essential as it can affect property boundaries. Landowners may find that their property has increased due to accretion, which must be acknowledged in surveys and legal descriptions.

This term is distinctly different from other processes like erosion, which involves the loss of land, or actions that might modify boundaries, such as a formal inspection that determines land limits. The nuances of these definitions are important in legal contexts and real estate, making accretion a key concept in understanding land ownership and changes over time.