Environmental

In Arizona, the 'Prior Appropriation Doctrine' for water rights means that:

ALandowners adjacent to a river have the right to use the river water
BWater rights are allocated based on priority date—'first in time, first in right'—so senior water rights holders have priority over junior holders during shortages✓ Correct
CThe state owns all surface water and allocates it equally among users
DUnderground water is exempt from all appropriation doctrines

Explanation

Arizona follows the prior appropriation doctrine for surface water: the first person to put water to beneficial use has priority. During shortages, junior (newer) water rights are curtailed before senior rights.

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