What is the law of capture?

The law of capture is an important water law in Colorado. It is a legal principle that states that the first party to capture a certain quantity of water from a surface or groundwater source has the right to use it for any reasonable purpose. This concept is based on the idea that water is a limited resource, and the party that is able to access it first has the legitimate right to use it, even if the right to the water had not been specifically granted by a water rights holder. The law of capture also applies to other water-related activities, including the construction of dams and diversion projects. Under this law, anyone who owns or has access to land can legally capture and use the water on that land. This law also states that the user of the water must take certain measures to ensure that the water use does not cause damage to surrounding lands or water sources. The law of capture is an important part of Colorado water law and is one of the guiding principals of water management and distribution. It helps ensure that water rights are respected and that disputes over who has access to water are kept to a minimum. In order to make sure that the law of capture is followed properly, each water right holder in Colorado must register their water rights with the state so that any disputes can be quickly and fairly settled.

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What is the law of capture?

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