Water rights under the doctrine of prior appropriation are allocated based on:
Correct Answer
C) Seniority — first in time, first in right
Why this is correct: The doctrine of prior appropriation, used in western U.S. states, allocates water rights based on seniority: 'first in time, first in right.' The earliest (senior) appropriator gets their full allocation before later (junior) users get any. Why the other choices are wrong: Ownership of bordering land describes riparian rights. Equal division is not a principle of prior appropriation. Acreage under cultivation may influence the amount claimed, but not the priority during shortage. Exam tip: Prior appropriation = priority by date. Riparian rights = rights attached to land bordering water.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Why this is correct: The doctrine of prior appropriation, used in western U.S. states, allocates water rights based on seniority: 'first in time, first in right.' The earliest (senior) appropriator gets their full allocation before later (junior) users get any. Why the other choices are wrong: Ownership of bordering land describes riparian rights. Equal division is not a principle of prior appropriation. Acreage under cultivation may influence the amount claimed, but not the priority during shortage. Exam tip: Prior appropriation = priority by date. Riparian rights = rights attached to land bordering water.
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