I lived in Silver City NM.There has been water in the Mogollons even in the driest of conditions, especially in the Mimbres Vally. Mimbres is Spanish for Willow, and yes there are ample of those water hungry trees in the valley. The pre - pueblo, Mimbres grew mainstays of corn, beans, and squash, all in the same 24" circle, the squash of course extended well past that root ball.
The legality issue to catchment has some merit. You are not allowed to restrict, capture or alter the flow of water anywhere in the west. you only have water rights to the water IN ( or under ) your ground. And that is " IF" you hold the water rights to the property, and you probably won't . mining companies bought up those rights loooong ago.
How much water goes where, down stream is very closly monitered, and controlled. If you catch it befor it soakes into the ground, you are keeping it from going where it should be going down stream. The same concept applies to wells. Getting a permit to drop, or extend a well is a big deal. and in time of shortage, the last wells to have been sunk, are the first to be shut down. Even if it is the only source for you and your family. The water cops come out and literally chain and lock down your well. and like many in NM you start hauling water. and that water you haul of course came from the very place you would have gotten your own well water in the first place !! Is that nuts or what ? States have been trying to up date the old water laws for years, and they still fight over them.
Of course there is the view that you are only interrupting the flow, and not stopping it. When you water your crops, you put it back int the aquifer system, same with treating waste water and releasing it.
When I was there ABQ. was considering catchment, but decided the long legal battle with other NM towns, TX, and Old Mex. wasn't worth it.
Face it , there are just too many people living in the SW. for what the water table will support.