Caballo Lake
Sierra County, New Mexico14,530 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Caballo Lake in Sierra County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.4 µg/L. Surface area: 14530 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.8 ft
- Area
- 14,530 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 37.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Caballo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Caballo Lake in Sierra 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 Caballo Lake are listed below.
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Caballo Lake is a 14,530-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Sierra County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Sierra County, Caballo Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2020-08-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Caballo Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping3 public campgrounds nearby
- Big water14,530 acres
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a 37.4 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 37.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 14,530 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Caballo Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Caballo Lake State ParkPublic
- Caballo Lake State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Caballo Lake
- Riverside Campground1.1 km
- Caballo Lake RV Park2.8 km
- Cosgrove's RV Park3.9 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 Caballo Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.058 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Caballo Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Caballo Dam (completed 1938), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Rio Grande River; rockfill-type dam, 110 ft tall and 4,558 ft long.
- Surface area
- 14,530 ac
- Normal storage
- 231,510 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 379,210 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 27,832.83 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00131 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Sierra County
Nearby Lakes in Sierra County
Frequently asked questions about Caballo Lake
Where is Caballo Lake?
- Caballo Lake is a lake in Sierra County, New Mexico. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Caballo Lake?
- Caballo Lake in Sierra County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.4 µg/L. Surface area: 14530 acres.
Is Caballo Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Caballo Lake?
- Caballo Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Caballo Lake State Park, Caballo Lake State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Caballo Lake?
- Caballo Lake has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Riverside Campground, Caballo Lake RV Park, Cosgrove's RV Park. 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 Caballo Lake across LakeQuality
3 thermal springs within 21.3 mi, nearest Derry Warm Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New Mexico's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- NM Environmental Dept./SWQB
21NMEX_WQX17 samples · 2014–2020
Analytical methods
- 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles