Environmental

South Dakota water rights are governed by the doctrine of:

ARiparian rights (right to use water adjacent to property)
BPrior appropriation ('first in time, first in right')✓ Correct
CAbsolute ownership of groundwater beneath the property
DFederal reserved water rights only

Explanation

South Dakota follows the prior appropriation doctrine for surface water: water rights are allocated based on priority dates, and the earliest appropriator has the superior right during shortages.

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