What doctrine is generally followed by states where water rights are controlled by the state?

The doctrine that is generally followed by states where water rights are controlled by the state is the prior appropriation doctrine. This principle allocates water rights based on the notion of "first in time, first in right." This means that the first person to divert water from a source for beneficial use has the priority over others who may seek the same water later.

In states that follow the prior appropriation doctrine, water is considered a public resource managed by the state, and individuals must apply for and obtain rights to use water. This system helps manage water resources, particularly in arid regions, by ensuring that those who make the investment to use the water for agriculture, industry, or other purposes are protected in their rights.

In contrast, other doctrines, such as riparian rights (which govern water rights for properties with adjoining water bodies) and littoral rights (related to properties abutting large bodies of water, like lakes and oceans), apply differently and do not typically correspond to state control over water rights. Water shares, on the other hand, refer to specific allocations or entitlements to water which may be a part of a regulated system but are not a governing doctrine like prior appropriation.