What is the doctrine of water appropriation?

The doctrine of water appropriation, also known as the prior appropriation doctrine, is a water law in Washington that states that water use is allocated according to priority of appropriation. This doctrine, which dates back to the late 1800s, states that when two or more users make use of the same water sources, the user who filed for rights to the water first is first in line to use the water. Washington’s prior appropriation doctrine is based on three core principles. The first principle is that water is allocated based on first in time, first in right. This means that the user who applied for, and received, rights to use a particular body of water first has priority over any other users. The second principle is that there are beneficial uses of water. This means that water must be used for a beneficial purpose such as irrigation, power generation, and municipal uses. The third principle is that water is a public resource. This means that the state government has the right to regulate quality and quantity of water, and to protect public trust resources such as rivers, streams, and lakes. This doctrine has been essential in maintaining and managing water resources in Washington. It prevents disputes between water users, and helps ensure that each user is using the water in a beneficial manner. This doctrine is also essential for protecting the environment by preventing over-appropriation of water.

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What is the doctrine of water appropriation?

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