Alto Lake
Lincoln County, New Mexico15 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Alto Lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 161.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Surface area: 15.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Area
- 15 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 161.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Alto Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alto Lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Alto Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Alto Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Alto Lake’s letter
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Alto Lake is a 15-acre mesotrophic lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Alto Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2024-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Alto Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 161.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 161.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Alto Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Alto Lake
- Sam Tobias Memorial Campground4.1 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Alto Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.228 m/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Alto Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Alto Lake Dam (completed 1965), built primarily for water supply on the Eagle Creek; earth-type dam, 54 ft tall and 362 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15.4 ac
- Normal storage
- 299.7 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 449 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00180 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Alto Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Alto Lake
Where is Alto Lake?
- Alto Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Alto Lake?
- Alto Lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 161.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Surface area: 15.4 acres.
Is Alto Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Alto Lake?
- Alto Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Sam Tobias Memorial Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Alto Lake across LakeQuality
More New Mexico Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Mexico
Mesotrophic Lakes in New Mexico
Where this data comes from
26 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- NM Environmental Dept./SWQB
21NMEX_WQX26 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles