2020 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 7 - Drainage Districts; Construction, Operation and Maintenance
Section 73-7-55 - [Obstruction of drains; bridges.]

No person, firm, county or corporation, or other municipal corporation, shall sink, set or drive any post, pillars or piling in any of the drains or ditches constructed under the provisions of this article for the purpose of erecting any bridge, trestle or covering over or across any such drain or ditch. All supports for any such bridges shall be entered or placed on the banks of such drain or watercourse so as not to obstruct the flow of water therein. No person taking water for any purpose, from any drain or ditch, constructed under the provisions of this article, shall take said water in such manner as to obstruct the flow of water in, or in any way diminish the efficiency of, said drain or ditch. Any person who shall violate any of the foregoing provisions of this section or who shall place logs, brush or any other like substances, or fell trees into them, which will obstruct the flow of water in any of the drains or watercourses constructed in whole or in part under the provisions of this article, or in any stream which will flow through such improvement, and any public officer or any employe [employee] who shall fail or refuse to perform any of the duties required by this article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable for all damages caused thereby.

History: Laws 1912, ch. 84, § 81; Code 1915, § 1957; C.S. 1929, § 40-186; 1941 Comp., § 77-1955; 1953 Comp., § 75-20-55.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Compiler's notes. — The 1915 Code substituted "this article" for "this act." Laws 1912, ch. 84. § 81 was codified as Code 1915, ch. 31, art. 1, now compiled as 73-6-1 to 73-6-17, 73-6-25 to 73-6-44, 73-7-1 to 73-7-24, 73-7-37, 73-7-38 and 73-7-40 to 73-7-56 NMSA 1978.

Cross references. — For general prohibition of interference with use of water, see 72-8-3 NMSA 1978.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 25 Am. Jur. 2d Drains and Drainage Districts § 33.

Obstruction or diversion of, or other interference with, flow of surface water as taking or damaging property within constitutional provision against taking or damaging without compensation, 128 A.L.R. 1195.

Liability for damages from obstruction of stream by debris or waste, 29 A.L.R.2d 447.

Municipality's liability for damage resulting from obstruction or clogging of drains or sewers, 59 A.L.R.2d 281.

28 C.J.S. Drains § 78; 93 C.J.S. Waters §§ 15, 20.