Quay County Lake Quality
New Mexico, 4 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Quay County has 4 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. With an average grade of B, Quay County sits comfortably above the {{stateName}} median.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Ute Reservoir (A); the most-stressed is Nla Lake (C).
Quick Answers for Quay County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Ute Reservoir — or check the official New Mexico fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Quay County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ute Reservoir | A | 7.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Ute Reservoir | A | 5.1 ft | - |
| 3 | Ute Reservoir Ute Creek Arm | B | 2.1 ft | - |
| 4 | Nla Lake | C | 3.9 ft | 24000 µg/L |
Other Counties in New Mexico
See how Quay County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Quay County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.