N.M. Stat. § 73-1-25
[Petition to include underground waters; filing objections;
hearing; amended decree.]
Where underground waters, other than artesian waters, as provided for in Section 1
[73-1-24 NMSA 1978] hereof, are to be included in any artesian conservancy district
which may hereafter be formed, the petition required to be filed and all notices required
to be given and published, as provided by law in connection with the formation of such
district, shall specifically state that such waters are to be included in the district, and that
the district shall have the same power, right and authority with respect thereto as may
be given to it by law over artesian waters.
Where any conservancy district has heretofore been formed, and the board of
directors of such district shall determine by resolution that it is desirable that
underground waters, other than artesian waters, shall be included in and subject to, the
district, such conservancy district may file a petition in the district court of the county
wherein said district was originally formed in the same proceeding, praying that the
decree providing for the formation of said district be amended so as to include such
waters; provided, however, the petition shall be accompanied by a certificate of the
state engineer, describing with reasonable accuracy the boundaries of all underground
waters, except artesian waters, within the boundaries of the conservancy district which
are subject to appropriation by law, and which, in the opinion of the state engineer,
should be included in the district, and certifying that to the best of his knowledge and
belief such waters, or a substantial portion thereof, are derived from the artesian basin,
or basins, included in such district, and that the same are so closely related to such
artesian waters that they can be most effectively conserved by said district. Upon the
filing of such petition, the district court having jurisdiction shall, by order, require notice
to be published by the clerk of the court, at such time and places as the court may
designate, giving notice to all underground water users affected by the proposed
change that a hearing will be had at a time and place designated in such notice, for the
purpose of determining whether or not all of the underground waters described in the
certificate of the state engineer filed with the said petition should be included in the
artesian conservancy district, and the decree establishing the district amended
accordingly. It shall not be necessary for the clerk to name the parties interested, nor to
describe the separate lots, tracts or parcels of land affected in giving such notice, but it
shall be sufficient to give such descriptions of the boundaries of the underground waters
proposed to be included as will enable the owner to determine whether or not his rights
will be affected. The notice shall state that any person affected by the proposed
inclusion of such waters shall have the right to file objections thereto, on or before the
date set for hearing. If, after hearing such objections, if any, and considering any
evidence introduced in support thereof, the court finds that it is reasonably certain that a
substantial portion of said waters are derived from the artesian basin, or basins,
included in such district, and that the same are so closely related to such artesian
waters that they can be effectively conserved by said district, the court shall enter an
order amending said decree, as prayed for in said petition, and thereupon said waters
shall be subject to the same rights, powers and authority as given by law to such
conservancy district over artesian waters.