Which scenario is representative of a riparian water management system?

A riparian water management system is characterized by the rights of landowners whose properties border a water source, such as a river or stream. In the scenario of owning land adjacent to a river for recreational fishing, this option exemplifies the principles of riparian rights. These rights allow landowners to make reasonable use of water from the adjacent body of water, including activities like fishing, as long as they do not significantly harm other riparian landowners or the ecosystem.

This understanding of riparian rights encompasses not only the use of water for consumption or agricultural purposes but also acknowledges the rights associated with recreational activities. In contrast, the other options relate to water management scenarios that do not fall under the traditional definitions of riparian rights:

Diverting river water for agricultural irrigation pertains more to appropriative water rights, which focus on the quantity of water diverted from a source regardless of land ownership. Purchasing water rights from a municipal provider relates to a market-based or appropriative system rather than riparian law. Lastly, using groundwater for industrial purposes does not involve surface water rights and typically falls under different legal frameworks governing groundwater use. Thus, owning land adjacent to a river for recreational fishing directly aligns with the core elements of a riparian water management system.