(a) Priority of appropriation gives prior right. Priority of appropriation does not include the right to prevent changes in the condition of water occurrence, such as the increase or decrease of stream flow, or the lowering of a water table, artesian pressure, or water level, by later appropriators, if the prior appropriator can reasonably acquire the appropriator’s water under the changed conditions.

Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 46.15.050

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • appropriation: means the diversion, impounding, or withdrawal of a quantity of water from a source of water for a beneficial use or the reservation of water under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 46.15.260
  • commissioner: means the commissioner of natural resources. See Alaska Statutes 46.15.260
  • water: means all water of the state, surface and subsurface, occurring in a natural state, except mineral and medicinal water. See Alaska Statutes 46.15.260
(b) Priority of appropriation made under this chapter dates from the filing of an application with the commissioner.
(c) Priority of appropriation perfected before July 1, 1966, shall be determined as provided in Alaska Stat. § 46.15.065.
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