Farmers from a narrow strip of fertile land in southwestern New Mexico are accusing the state's top water management agency of violating their constitutional rights.
The group is threatening to sue the state engineer's office over a mandate that calls for metering devices to be installed along the Mimbres River.
State officials say the meters are necessary as drought continues, but the farmers argue the metering program shouldn't involve them giving the agency unfettered access to their private property.
Buddy and Deanna Eby say the state engineer has been fining them $200 a day since late March for not agreeing to sign over an easement to part of their property and install a meter. They have been unable to divert water for their crops as a result of the dispute.
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