Property Ownership

A Wyoming ranch is sold with all water rights attached. Water rights in Wyoming are governed by:

AFederal riparian doctrine
BWyoming's prior appropriation doctrine✓ Correct
CThe common law of the land
DThe neighboring landowners collectively

Explanation

Wyoming follows the prior appropriation doctrine ('first in time, first in right') for water rights. Water rights are property rights that can be bought, sold, and severed from the land, and are critical to ranch values.

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