16-4-16. Joint powers.
The operating party, subsequent to satisfying the provisions of Subsection A of Section 5 [16-4-13 NMSA 1978] of the Rio Grande Valley State Park Act, and the conservancy district shall enter into a joint powers agreement to effectuate the provisions of the Rio Grande Valley State Park Act [16-4-9 to 16-4-17 NMSA 1978]; provided, however, that nothing in the Rio Grande Valley State Park Act shall be construed in such a way as to obstruct or interfere with the duties, operations, obligations, construction of new works or functions of the middle Rio Grande conservancy district as provided in Chapter 73, Articles 14 and 18 NMSA 1978 or the duties and obligations of the state of New Mexico under the Rio Grande Compact [72-15-23 NMSA 1978] or agreements or contracts between the conservancy district and federal agencies such as the United States department of interior, the bureau of reclamation and the United States army corps of engineers.
In the event the operating party and the conservancy district fail to negotiate a mutually acceptable joint powers agreement within one year from complying with the provisions of Subsection A of Section 5 of the Rio Grande Valley State Park Act, the operating party and the conservancy district shall submit any unresolved disputes to a mutually agreeable impartial arbitrator for binding arbitration.