Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep
Lincoln County, New Mexico39 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Temperature
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep in Lincoln County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 38.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 38 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep’s letter
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Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is a 39-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2024-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.171 m/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Grindstone Canyon Dam (completed 1987), built primarily for water supply on the Grindstone Canyon; roller-compacted concrete-type dam, 133 ft tall and 1,304 ft long.
- Surface area
- 38.8 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,549.8 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.23 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00513 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.15 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NM-2209.B_20 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.31 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep
Where is Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep?
- Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is a lake in Lincoln County, New Mexico. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep?
- Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep in Lincoln County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 38.8 acres.
Is Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at New Mexico's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
23 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_WQX23 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database