Colorado Land Surveyor Practice Exam

Which term describes the natural process of forming new land through the addition of soil by water?

1. Erration

2. Accretion

3. Alluvium

4. Deposition

The correct answer is: Accretion

The term that describes the natural process of forming new land through the addition of soil by water is called accretion. This process occurs when sediment, such as soil or sand, is gradually deposited by moving water, such as rivers, lakes, or oceans, leading to the expansion of land. Over time, as more material accumulates, new land masses can form, contributing to the geographical and ecological development of an area. Understanding the concept of accretion is important in land surveying and property law, as it relates to the rights of landowners regarding new land that may form adjacent to their property through natural processes. The other terms mentioned serve different meanings in the context of geology and land formation. Erration is not a recognized term related to land formation processes. Alluvium refers specifically to the sediment that is deposited by flowing water and is involved in the process of accretion, but it does not describe the process itself. Deposition refers to the process of sediment being laid down or deposited in a new location, which can contribute to accretion but is not synonymous with the term describing the overall phenomenon of land formation from waterborne soil additions.