Throughout much of the West, water is a limiting resource with respect to economic growth and development. In deciding who has the right to use the water that is available, the Prior Appropriation Doctrine is frequently applied. Essentially, Prior Appropriation states that whoever was using the water first owns the right to continued use of the water, provided it is put to some beneficial use. Is this a reasonable legal mandate to follow when awarding water rights? Or should whoever can put the water to the "best" use have priority over who was using the water first? How would you decide what the "best" use of water is?