Which process involves the addition of land to an existing parcel due to actions of water?

The process that involves the addition of land to an existing parcel because of the actions of water is known as accretion. This occurs when sediment, soil, or other materials gradually build up along the banks of rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water due to the natural movement of water. Over time, this accumulation can result in an increase in land area, which becomes a part of the adjacent property.

Accretion is an important legal concept in property law as it relates to land ownership. The property owner whose land adjoins the water body may claim this newly formed land as part of their property. This process is distinct from other concepts such as adverse possession, which relates to claiming land based on continuous use, and littoral or riparian rights, which deal with the rights of property owners to use water from adjacent bodies.