Which principle governs the gradual addition of land due to natural processes like sedimentation?

The principle that governs the gradual addition of land due to natural processes like sedimentation is known as Accession. This legal concept refers to the right of a landowner to add to their property through natural means, such as the accumulation of soil, which can occur along riverbanks or coastal areas due to sedimentation. Over time, as land is added gradually, the original landowner gains title to the new land created by these natural processes.

Accession encompasses various forms of property enhancement through natural growth, whether it be from the growth of plants or the gradual accumulation of soil, and recognizes the continuity and connection between the original parcel of land and the newly formed land. This principle is essential in property law since it determines the ownership rights that come with these natural developments.

The other concepts—Appurtenance, Easement, and Adverse possession—pertain to different aspects of property law but do not relate to the natural increase of land through processes like sedimentation. Appurtenance involves rights or attachments that belong to a property, easements refer to the right to use another's land for a specific purpose, and adverse possession concerns acquiring rights over a property through continuous possession under certain conditions.