E Butte Lake
Sierra County, New Mexico42,750 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
E Butte Lake in Sierra County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Surface area: 42750 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Area
- 42,750 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near E Butte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near E Butte 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 E Butte Lake are listed below.
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E Butte Lake is a 42,750-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sierra County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is declining 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, E Butte Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2020-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What E Butte Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water42,750 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a 10 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42,750 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for E Butte Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Dam SitePublic
- Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Marina Del SurPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing E Butte Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.188 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
E Butte Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elephant Butte Dam (completed 1916), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Rio Grande River; concrete-type dam, 306 ft tall and 1,379 ft long.
- Surface area
- 42,750 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,065,010 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,593,255 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 26,592.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00129 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.54 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Sierra County
Nearby Lakes in Sierra County
Frequently asked questions about E Butte Lake
Where is E Butte Lake?
- E Butte Lake is a lake in Sierra 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 E Butte Lake?
- E Butte Lake in Sierra County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Surface area: 42750 acres.
Is E Butte Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on E Butte Lake?
- E Butte Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Dam Site, Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Marina Del Sur. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore E Butte Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 23.3 mi, nearest Truth Or Consequences
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New Mexico's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced 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