In which scenario is the doctrine of prior appropriation most likely to be followed?

The doctrine of prior appropriation is primarily associated with areas where water is a limited resource, making the scarcity of water a crucial factor. This legal principle allows individuals to acquire rights to water by being the first to use it for beneficial purposes, such as irrigation or drinking, irrespective of the land ownership. In regions where water is scarce, the doctrine is particularly relevant as it helps to establish a system of allocation to ensure that those who need water for essential uses can access it.

In contrast, if water is abundant, there may not be a need for strict allocation rules, and rights might not need to be prioritized in the same way. Similarly, automatic conveyance of water rights with property is more common in riparian rights systems, which govern water use in situations where water is plentiful. Also, while agriculture does use significant water resources, the principle of prior appropriation is specifically focused on the priority of rights, underscoring its relevance in managing scarcity rather than usage. Thus, the connection between prior appropriation and a scenario of water scarcity illustrates the necessity of organized management in order to balance competing demands for limited water resources.