A. Any acequia or community ditch association has the power to acquire and hold property and water rights and transfer and use the property and water rights so acquired pursuant to law.

B. The rights of an acequia or community ditch association to the waters of the acequia or association or their use or the lands and property owned by the acequia or association shall not be lost by the acequia or community ditch association by prescription or adverse possession or for nonuse of waters except as provided in Section 72-5-28 N.M. Stat. Ann..