Property Ownership

In Colorado, the 'Law of Capture' as it relates to groundwater originally allowed landowners to:

ACapture all surface water flowing through their property
BPump as much groundwater as possible from beneath their land, even if it reduced neighbors' wells✓ Correct
CCapture mineral rights regardless of surface ownership
DCapture abandoned properties through adverse possession

Explanation

The common law 'Rule of Capture' for groundwater allowed landowners to pump as much water as they could, even depleting neighboring wells. Colorado has moved away from this toward a regulated appropriation system for groundwater, with designated basins and well permit requirements.

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