Titles to riparian lands run to the thread of the contiguous stream. See Oliver v. Thomas, 173 Neb. 36, 112 N.W.2d 525; Nebraska v. Iowa, 406 U.S. 117, 92 S. Ct. 1379 (1972). The thread or center of a stream is that line which would give owners on either side access to the water at its lowest ebb. Anderson v. Cumpston, 258 Neb. 891, ___ N.W.2d ___ (2000); State v. Eckland, 147 Neb. 508, 23 N.W.2d 782 (1946). See also Curren v. All Persons Having or Claiming Any Interest in Certain Real Estate, 149 Neb. 477, 31 N.W.2d (1948); Higgins v. Adelson, 131 Neb. 820, 270 N.W. 502 (1936).
The “thread or center of a channel” is the line which would give the owners on either side access to the water, whatever its stage might be, particularly at its lowest flow. Heider v. Kautz, 165 Neb. 649, 87 N.W.2d (1958). See also Oliver v. Thomas, 173 Neb 36, 112 N.W.2d 525 (1961); Curren v. All Persons Having or Claiming Any Interest in Certain Real Estate, 149 Neb. 477, 31 N.W.2d (1948); Stubblefield v. Osborn, 149 Neb. 566, 31 N.W.2d 547 (1948); Mingus v. Bell, 148 Neb. 735, 29 N.W.2d 332 (1947); Hardt v. Orr, 142 Neb. 460, 6 N.W.2d 589 (1942); Higgins v. Adelson, 131 Neb 820, 270 N.W. 502 (1937).
SEE ALSO RIPARIAN RIGHT – OWN SOIL TO THREAD OF STREAM