N.M. Stat. § 72-14-21
[Accounts pertaining to works required; control of
construction; collection of revenues; sale of water; suits.]
The commission shall keep full and complete accounts concerning all matters and
things relating to the works and annually shall prepare balance sheets and income and
profit and loss statements showing the financial condition of each project, and file
copies thereof with the secretary of state. All books and papers pertaining to all matters
provided for in this act [72-14-9 to 72-14-23, 72-14-25 to 72-14-28 NMSA 1978] shall at
all reasonable times be open to the inspection of any party interested or any citizen of
the state. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the commission shall have full
charge and control of the construction, operation and maintenance of the works and the
collection of all rates, charges and revenues of whatsoever character therefrom. The
commission shall proceed immediately with the construction of the works upon funds
being made available therefor and shall prosecute such works to completion as rapidly
as possible. The commission shall have power to sell, lease and otherwise dispose of
all waters which may be impounded under the provisions of this act, and such water
may be sold for the purpose of irrigation, development of power, watering of stock or
any other purpose. To the extent that it may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this act, and subject to a compliance with the other provisions of this act, the board may
take full control of all the water of the state not under the exclusive control of the United
States and not vested in private ownership, and it shall be its duty to take such steps as
may be necessary to appropriate and conserve the same for the use of the people.
The commission shall have power to institute in any of the courts of this state, or in
any other state, or in any of the federal courts of this state or any other state, any
actions, suits and special proceedings necessary to enable it to acquire, own and hold
title to lands for dam sites, reservoir sites, water rights, rights-of-way for diversion and
distributing canals, and lateral ditches and other means of distribution of water, and may
also in all said courts institute, maintain and prosecute to final determination any and all
actions, suits and special proceedings necessary to have the water rights adjudicated
upon any stream or source of water supply from which is derived the water for such
reservoir, diversion and distributing canals, lateral ditches and other means of
distribution of the water; and said commission may join any and all owners of waters
heretofore appropriated by any person, association or corporation from any of the
streams of the state of New Mexico so that adjudication may be had of all surplus water
upon all the streams and sources of water supply of any project so constructed by said
commission. All costs and expenses of such actions, suits or special proceedings shall
be paid by said commission out of funds provided under the authority of this act.