Property Ownership

Riparian water rights (ownership tied to adjacent land) are NOT recognized in Utah because:

AUtah is a desert state with no rivers
BUtah follows prior appropriation, not riparian rights✓ Correct
CThe federal government owns all water in Utah
DOnly Native American tribes hold water rights in Utah

Explanation

Utah adopted the prior appropriation doctrine ('first in time, first in right') rather than the riparian doctrine. Water rights are based on beneficial use and priority date, not land adjacency.

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