N.M. Stat. § 73-1-20
[Program of water conservation; prevention of leaking
wells.]
After the formation of any artesian conservancy district, it shall be the duty of the
board of directors from year to year to outline a plan or program of water conservation
and administration, and they shall make an estimate of the cost of administration,
equipment and improvements necessary to carry out such program from year to year,
when the cost thereof is to be paid by tax levies. In carrying out any such plan or
program the board of directors shall have authority to cooperate with the state engineer
and the United States geological survey, where such cooperation is offered.
The program to be carried out and the improvements to be made and the equipment
to be purchased shall be designed to accomplish the objects and purposes for which
the district was created, and may include the plugging of all wells within the district
found by tests to be materially leaking or wasting any waters included in the district. The
directors may proceed to carry out the improvements so outlined in such manner as
may be deemed for the best interest of all concerned, and may enter into any contracts
or do or perform any act or thing necessary or advisable to carry out to all intents and
purposes the objects and purposes for which the district was formed, and shall have the
right of ingress and egress at all reasonable times to all wells within the district for the
purpose of making leakage tests, and otherwise determining that such wells are
properly equipped and are being used so as to conserve the waters included in the
conservancy district.
All wells included in the district found to be leaking or wasting such waters, are
hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the directors of the district and those
under their authority shall have the right, power and authority to go upon the lands upon
which any such well is located to abate such nuisance by plugging or repairing any such
well.