New Mexico § 72-5-20 Headgates and measuring devices

New Mexico Statutes

§ 72-5-20 — Headgates and measuring devices

New Mexico § 72-5-20

Ch. 72Water Law

Art. 5Appropriation and Use of Surface Water

This text of New Mexico § 72-5-20 (Headgates and measuring devices) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

N.M. Stat. Ann. § 72-5-20 (2026).

Text

Every ditch owner shall, when requested to do so by the state engineer, construct and maintain a substantial headgate at the point where the water is diverted, and shall construct a measuring device, of a design approved by the state engineer, at the most practical point or points for measuring and apportioning the water as determined by the state engineer. The state engineer may order the construction of such device by the ditch owner and, if not completed within twenty days thereafter, refuse to deliver water to such owner. The taking of the water by such ditch owner, after refusal by the state engineer to deliver water to him until the construction of such device and the approval thereof by the state engineer, shall be a misdemeanor. Such devices shall be so arranged that they can be lo

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Every ditch owner shall, when requested to do so by the state engineer, construct and maintain a substantial headgate at the point where the water is diverted, and shall construct a measuring device, of a design approved by the state engineer, at the most practical point or points for measuring and apportioning the water as determined by the state engineer. The state engineer may order the construction of such device by the ditch owner and, if not completed within twenty days thereafter, refuse to deliver water to such owner. The taking of the water by such ditch owner, after refusal by the state engineer to deliver water to him until the construction of such device and the approval thereof by the state engineer, shall be a misdemeanor. Such devices shall be so arranged that they can be locked in place, and when locked by the state engineer or his authorized agent, for the measurement or apportionment of water, it shall be a misdemeanor for any unauthorized person to interfere with, disturb or change the same.