Property Ownership

Under Alaska water law, the doctrine of prior appropriation holds that:

AAll landowners adjacent to a water body have equal rights to its use
BThe first user to divert and beneficially use water has senior rights over later users✓ Correct
CWater rights are owned by the state and cannot be privately held
DRiparian landowners may use water only for domestic purposes

Explanation

Alaska follows the doctrine of prior appropriation for water rights: 'first in time, first in right.' The party who first diverts and puts water to beneficial use has priority over later appropriators.

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