The course of ditches or acequias established prior to July 20, 1851, shall not be disturbed.
History: Laws 1851-1852, p. 189, § 8; C.L. 1865, ch. 1, § 8; C.L. 1884, § 5; C.L. 1897, § 5; Code 1915, § 5732; C.S. 1929, § 151-402; 1941 Comp., § 77-1406; 1953 Comp., § 75-14-6.
Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
Intent of section. — Section was enacted primarily for protection of ditches from outside trespassers, it was intended as a guarantee against destruction or disturbance of ditches then in existence. Candelaria v. Vallejos, 1905-NMSC-019, 13 N.M. 146, 81 P. 589.
Section has no application to ditches constructed after its enactment. Candelaria v. Vallejos, 1905-NMSC-019, 13 N.M. 146, 81 P. 589.
Section prohibits changing course or combining ditches. — Commissioners (see Section 73-2-12 NMSA 1978) have no power to change the course of a ditch, or combine two, if the ditches were established prior to 1851. 1930 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 30-115.
Law reviews. — For article, "Water Rights Problems in the Upper Rio Grande Watershed and Adjoining Areas," see 11 Nat. Resources J. 48 (1971).
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 2 - Ditches or Acequias
Section 73-2-1 - [Right of construction; damages.]
Section 73-2-2 - [Condemnation of lands.]
Section 73-2-3 - [Taking of lands for construction.]
Section 73-2-4 - [Preference right for irrigation; obstruction.]
Section 73-2-5 - Ditch over land of another; easement; right of servient owner; penalty.
Section 73-2-6 - [Ancient ditches protected.]
Section 73-2-7 - [Ownership; right to water.]
Section 73-2-8 - [Management of ditches crossing county line.]
Section 73-2-9 - [Acequias declared public.]
Section 73-2-10 - [Ownership of plants on banks.]
Section 73-2-11 - [Community ditches made corporations; ditches taking water from common source.]
Section 73-2-12 - Officers, election, bonds and vacancies in certain counties.
Section 73-2-13 - [Vacancies in office of commissioner.]
Section 73-2-14 - Ditch elections; votes.
Section 73-2-15 - [Failure to hold election; calling of special election.]
Section 73-2-16 - [Disqualifications.]
Section 73-2-17 - [Disqualifications.]
Section 73-2-18 - [Pay of mayordomo.]
Section 73-2-19 - [Mayordomo; not to lease lands.]
Section 73-2-20 - [Mayordomo not to lease lands; penalty.]
Section 73-2-21 - Commissioners' powers and duties; mayordomo's duties.
Section 73-2-23 - [Reimbursement of commissioner's expenses.]
Section 73-2-24 - [Maximum charge in lieu of fatigue work; excepted counties.]
Section 73-2-25 - Persons delinquent not to use water; penalty.
Section 73-2-26 - Actions for collection of assessments.
Section 73-2-27 - [Community ditches defined.]
Section 73-2-28 - Acequia and community ditch associations.
Section 73-2-28.1 - Acequias and community ditch associations; insurance coverage.
Section 73-2-30 - [Duty to furnish laborers.]
Section 73-2-31 - Failure to furnish laborers.
Section 73-2-32 - [Disposition of fines.]
Section 73-2-33 - [Duty to work.]
Section 73-2-34 - Common labor; failure to work.
Section 73-2-35 - [Obligation to work continues until completion.]
Section 73-2-36 - [Duty to furnish laborers; mayordomos to superintend work.]
Section 73-2-37 - [Penalty for abandoning work.]
Section 73-2-38 - [Labor to be in proportion to land ownership.]
Section 73-2-39 - [Duty to furnish laborers; duty of absent landowner.]
Section 73-2-40 - [Failure to furnish laborers; penalty.]
Section 73-2-41 - Indians; rights and duties.
Section 73-2-42 - Blind persons; free irrigation.
Section 73-2-43 - [Bridges across roads.]
Section 73-2-44 - [Payment for bridges.]
Section 73-2-45 - [Persons delinquent for bridges not to use waters.]
Section 73-2-46 - [Mayordomo failure to perform duties; penalty.]
Section 73-2-47 - [Several ditches from one stream; joint meeting of commissioners.]
Section 73-2-48 - [Organization; rules and regulations.]
Section 73-2-49 - [Distribution of water.]
Section 73-2-50 - [Neglect of duty; penalty.]
Section 73-2-51 - [Not applicable on Rio Grande.]
Section 73-2-52 - [Spillways; place; work on excess water.]
Section 73-2-54 - [Joint spillways or degaguas; use of water without consent; penalty.]
Section 73-2-55 - [Joint spillways or degaguas; use of water; authority of majority of mayordomos.]
Section 73-2-55.1 - Water banking; acequias and community ditches.
Section 73-2-57 - [Crossing lands in reconstruction; compensation; determination; procedure.]
Section 73-2-58 - [Appraisers; oath.]
Section 73-2-59 - [Appraisement; notice to landowners; contents; service; return.]
Section 73-2-60 - [Report of appraisers; contents.]
Section 73-2-61 - [Payment of appraised value; right to possession; forcible entry and detainer.]
Section 73-2-62 - [Appeal from appraisement to district court.]
Section 73-2-63 - [Change in place of diversion; permit unnecessary.]
Section 73-2-65 - Acequia commission; created; membership; terms.
Section 73-2-66 - Powers and duties.