Hopewell Lake
Rio Arriba County, New Mexico13 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #5 of 5 in the county
- Limited data
Hopewell Lake in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 76 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.9 µg/L. Surface area: 13 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Area
- 13 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 76 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 52.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Hopewell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hopewell Lake in Rio Arriba 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 Hopewell Lake are listed below.
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Watch Hopewell Lake’s letter
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Hopewell Lake is a 13-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Rio Arriba County, Hopewell Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2024-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Hopewell 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Hopewell Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 76 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 52.9 µg/L. TSI 65. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 76 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 52.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Hopewell Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Hopewell Lake
- Hopewell Cg0.6 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 Hopewell Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.023 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.01 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hopewell Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hopewell Lake Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for recreation on the Placer Creek; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 340 ft long.
- Surface area
- 13 ac
- Normal storage
- 80 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 170 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00155 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Hopewell Lake 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-2112.B_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Rio Arriba County
Nearby Lakes in Rio Arriba County
Frequently asked questions about Hopewell Lake
Where is Hopewell Lake?
- Hopewell Lake is a lake in Rio Arriba 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 Hopewell Lake?
- Hopewell Lake in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 76 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.9 µg/L. Surface area: 13 acres.
Is Hopewell Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Hopewell Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Hopewell Lake?
- Hopewell Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Hopewell Cg. 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 Hopewell Lake across LakeQuality
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
20 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_WQX20 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles