2020 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 13 - General Provisions Relating to Irrigation Districts
Section 73-13-3 - [Power to deal in lands and water rights.]
The directors of any irrigation district, now organized or which may be hereafter organized under the laws of the state of New Mexico, shall have power to purchase, hold, use, control, operate, sell, convey, lease and otherwise acquire and deal in lands and water rights, and any and all interests therein, in the name and for the use of the district, whenever, in their judgment such action shall be for the benefit of the district.
History: Laws 1925, ch. 139, § 1; C.S. 1929, § 73-601; 1941 Comp., § 77-2503; 1953 Comp., § 75-26-3.
ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
Irrigation district has power to acquire water rights by any legal means. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-01.
Use of water right must commence within four years. — The length of time that an irrigation district may hold a right without putting the water of that right to beneficial use is limited to four years, although, in the discretion of the director of the water resources division, extensions of time may be granted beyond the four-year period. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-01.
Forfeiture for nonuse. — An irrigation district must continue to beneficially use any water right acquired pursuant to this section or suffer the right to be forfeited. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-01.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 45 Am. Jur. 2d Irrigation § 62.
94 C.J.S. Waters § 321.
