What type of water rights do Hal and Sara hold for their landlocked property with a distant irrigation source?

The correct type of water rights for Hal and Sara, who own landlocked property with a distant irrigation source, is prior appropriation. This concept is particularly relevant in regions where water is scarce, which is often the case in parts of Texas and the western United States.

Prior appropriation is a legal doctrine that governs water rights based on the principle of "first in time, first in right." This means that the first person to divert water from a source for beneficial use has the right to continue using that water, even if it is not adjacent to their property. This system prioritizes water users based on their historical usage rather than their proximity to the water source, which is crucial for landlocked properties that cannot access water easily.

In contrast, riparian rights pertain to property owners who have land adjacent to a natural water source, allowing them to use the water in a reasonable manner. Correlative rights may involve shared access to water among landowners but are also typically associated with more direct access to water sources. Water rights based on ownership emphasize the right of property owners to access water based on their ownership of land, which does not apply in this scenario as Hal and Sara's property is landlocked and distant from a water source.

Therefore,