New Mexico § 72-9-1 Vested and existing rights; protection

New Mexico Statutes

§ 72-9-1 — Vested and existing rights; protection

New Mexico § 72-9-1

Ch. 72Water Law

Art. 9Application of Water Act of 1907

This text of New Mexico § 72-9-1 (Vested and existing rights; protection) 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. § 72-9-1 (2026).

Text

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to impair existing vested rights or the rights and priority of any person, firm, corporation or association, who may have commenced the construction of reservoirs, canals, pipelines or other works, or who have filed affidavits, applications or notices thereof for the purpose of appropriating for beneficial use, any waters as defined in Section 72-1-1 NMSA 1978, in accordance with the laws of the territory of New Mexico, prior to March 19, 1907; provided, however, that all such reservoirs, canals, pipelines or other works and the rights of the owners thereof shall be subject to regulation, adjudication and forfeiture for nonuse as provided in this article.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to impair existing vested rights or the rights and priority of any person, firm, corporation or association, who may have commenced the construction of reservoirs, canals, pipelines or other works, or who have filed affidavits, applications or notices thereof for the purpose of appropriating for beneficial use, any waters as defined in Section 72-1-1 NMSA 1978, in accordance with the laws of the territory of New Mexico, prior to March 19, 1907; provided, however, that all such reservoirs, canals, pipelines or other works and the rights of the owners thereof shall be subject to regulation, adjudication and forfeiture for nonuse as provided in this article.