Property Ownership

In Colorado, 'riparian rights' differ from 'prior appropriation' water rights in that:

AA. Riparian rights allow use based on land ownership adjacent to the waterway; prior appropriation allocates rights based on seniority of use✓ Correct
BB. Colorado uses riparian rights for all water allocations
CC. Prior appropriation only applies to groundwater
DD. Riparian rights are stronger than prior appropriation rights

Explanation

Colorado follows the prior appropriation doctrine ('first in time, first in right') for water rights — rights are allocated based on seniority of beneficial use, not land ownership. Most Eastern states use riparian rights (tied to ownership of land adjacent to a watercourse).

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