The control and regulation on the part of the Commonwealth of the development of the waters of the Commonwealth shall be paramount, and shall be exercised through the agency of the State Corporation Commission, sometimes in this chapter referred to as the Commission; provided, however, nothing contained in this chapter shall deprive any riparian owner of any right which he may have, under existing law, except by due and further process of law upon the exercise of eminent domain and upon the payment of just compensation for any such right.
Code 1950, § 62-70; 1968, c. 659.