De ripa munienda
(Concerning the interdict which has reference to raising the banks of streams.)
1 Ulpianus libro sexagensimo octavo ad edictum. Praetor ait: ‘Quo minus illi in flumine publico ripave eius opus facere ripae agrive qui circa ripam est tuendi causa liceat, dum ne ob id navigatio deterior fiat, si tibi damni infecti in annos decem viri boni arbitratu vel cautum vel satisdatum est aut per illum non stat, quo minus viri boni arbitratu caveatur vel satisdetur, vim fieri veto’. 1Ripas fluminum publicorum reficere munire utilissimum est. sicuti igitur de via publica reficienda interdictum propositum est, ita etiam de ripa fluminis munienda proponendum fuit. 2Merito adicit ‘dum ne ob id navigatio deterior fiat’: illa enim sola refectio toleranda est, quae navigio non est impedimento. 3Is autem, qui ripam vult munire, de damno futuro debet vel cavere vel satisdare secundum qualitatem personae: et hoc interdicto expressum est, ut damni infecti in annos decem viri boni arbitratu vel caveatur vel satisdetur. 4Dabitur autem satis vicinis: sed et his, qui trans flumen possidebunt. 5Etenim curandum fuit, ut eis ante opus factum caveretur: nam post opus factum persequendi hoc interdicto nulla facultas superest, etiamsi quid damni postea datum fuerit, sed lege Aquilia experiendum est. 6Illud notandum est, quod ripae lacus fossae stagni muniendi nihil praetor hic cavit: sed idem erit observandum, quod in ripa fluminis munienda.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXVIII. The Prætor says: “I forbid force to be employed to prevent anyone from doing any work in any public river, or on the bank of the same, which he has a right to do for the purpose of strengthening the said bank, or protecting his land which adjoins it; provided that, by so doing, no interference is made with navigation, and security against threatened injury is furnished for ten years, in accordance with the judgment of a good citizen; or where it is not the fault of the party in question that a bond or sureties have not been given for this purpose.” 1It is very advantageous to repair and strengthen the banks of public streams. Therefore, as there is an interdict which has reference to the repair of public highways, so also there is one which relates to the strengthening of the banks of rivers. 2The Prætor with good reason adds, “provided that, by so doing, no interference is made with navigation,” for only such repairs shquld be permitted which offer no impediment to navigation. 3He who wishes to repair his bank should provide against threatened injury either by giving a bond, or sureties, dependent upon the rank of the parties interested. It is expressly stated in this interdict that security shall be given, either by bond or surety, for any injury which may be caused within ten years, in accordance with the judgment of a good citizen. 4Security should not only be given to the neighbors, but also to persons owning land on the other side of the stream. 5Care should be taken that security is furnished to these persons before the work has been performed; for, after this has been done, no one can be proceeded against under this interdict; even if any damage should afterwards result, but suit can be brought under the Aquilian Law. 6It should be noted that the Prætor makes no provision for repairing the banks of a lake, a canal, or a pond. The same rule, however, must be observed which applies to the repairs of the banks of a stream.