New Mexico Statutes Chapter 72. Water Law § 72-9-2. Local or community rules and customs unaffected; authority of state engineer

In all cases where local or community customs, rules and regulations have been adopted and are in force and in all cases where such rules and regulations may be adopted from time to time by the majority of the users from a common canal, lateral or irrigation system, and have for their object the economical use of water and are not detrimental to the public welfare, such rules and regulations shall govern the distribution of water from such ditches, laterals and irrigation systems to the persons entitled to water therefrom, and such customs, rules and regulations shall not be molested or changed, unless so desired by the persons interested and using said custom or customs, but nothing in this section shall be taken to impair the authority of the state engineer and water master to regulate the distribution of water from the various stream systems of the state to the ditches and irrigation systems entitled to water therefrom under the provisions of this article.