Describe the doctrine of "prior appropriation" in water rights.

The doctrine of "prior appropriation" is a principle that governs water rights in many western states within the United States. The core tenet of this doctrine is that the right to use water is granted to those who first make beneficial use of it. This means that individuals or entities who divert water from a source and put it to productive use, such as irrigation, municipal supply, or industrial purposes, establish priority over others who may seek to use the same water later.

This system promotes an orderly allocation of water resources, especially in areas where water may be scarce. It operates under the mantra “first in time, first in right,” meaning that the earliest users (those who can demonstrate beneficial use) have the strongest claims to the water. Thus, if disputes arise over water usage, the priority goes to those who have historically been the first to appropriate it for such purposes.

In contrast, other options do not accurately capture the essence of the prior appropriation doctrine. For example, simply having ownership of adjacent land (the first option) does not confer water rights under this doctrine. Rather, it focuses on the timing and manner of use. The idea of allocating water based on seniority (the second option) is related but does not encompass the