72-8-5: [Diversion of water to other valleys; penalty.]

It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to divert the waters of any public stream in New Mexico for use for reservoirs or other purposes in a valley other than that of any such stream, to the impairment of valid and subsisting prior appropriations of such waters.

Any violator of this section, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment in the county jail for not less than one month nor more than three months, or both, in the discretion of the court.