What type of water rights do Hal and Sara hold for using the stream located six miles away?

Hal and Sara hold prior appropriation rights for using the stream located six miles away because this doctrine is primarily applied in arid regions, such as Arizona, where water resources are scarce. Under the prior appropriation system, the first individual to divert and put water to beneficial use has the right to continue using that water, regardless of whether they own land adjacent to the water source. This means that even if Hal and Sara are not riparian owners—those with land adjacent to the water—they can acquire rights to use the water from the stream by establishing a record of prior appropriation and demonstrating beneficial use.

Riparian rights, on the other hand, typically apply to properties that are directly adjacent to a water source, allowing landowners to use the water flowing past their property. Since the stream is six miles away from Hal and Sara, riparian rights would not apply to their situation.

Adverse possession rights pertain to the use of land rather than water, allowing individuals to claim ownership of land after continuous and open use for a specified period. Federal water rights involve entitlements granted by federal government laws, primarily regarding federal lands and resources, which does not pertain to their situation with the stream either.

Thus, given the context of their use of