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III. DOCTRINE OF PRIOR APPROPRIATION A. Overview The doctrine of prior appropriation is a "first in time is first in right" system for allocation of water. Simply stated, the first person to appropriate water and apply it to a beneficial use has the first right to use water from that source. Each suc- cessive appropriator may only take his share of the water after all those water rights senior to his are satisfied. The doctrine of prior appropriation has always been the law in Colorado. This was established by the Colorado Supreme Court in Coffin v. Left Hand Ditch Company, 6 Colo. 443, 446, 447 (1882), in which the court stated: It is contended by counsel ... that the common law principles of riparian proprietorship prevailed in Colorado until 1876, and the doctrine of priority of right to water by priority of appropriation thereof was first recognized and adopted in the constitution (of Colorado). But we think the latter doctrine has existed from the date of the earliest appropriations of water within the boundaries of the state. We conclude, then, that the common law doc- trine giving the riparian owner a right to the flow of water in its natural channel upon and over his lands, even though he makes no beneficial use thereof, is inap- plicable to Colorado. Imperative neces- sity, unknown to the countries which gave it birth, compels the recognition of anoth- er doctrine in conflict therewith. The doctrine of prior appropriation is enforced by the state en- gineer, discussed infra, through the seven division engineers and numerous water commissioners who enforce the priority system by ordering junior water rights to cease diverting when seniors "call" for their water in times of shortage. -3-