Elephant Butte Reservoir is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sierra County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Sierra County, Elephant Butte Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New Mexico DNR, last sampled 2020-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 20.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.8 µg/L | D |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Elephant Butte Reservoir
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Fishing Elephant Butte Reservoir
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Sierra County
Nearby Lakes in Sierra County
Explore Elephant Butte Reservoir across LakeGrade
More New Mexico Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in New Mexico
Eutrophic Lakes in New Mexico
More records, surveys & data sources
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-08-06
Monitoring stations: 1