Jal Lake
Lea County, New MexicoView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Limited data
Jal Lake in Lea County, New Mexico is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 62.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Phosphorus
- 35 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 62.3 µg/L
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Watch Jal Lake’s letter
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Why Jal Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Jal Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by NMED and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Jal Lake is a lake in Lea County, New Mexico.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2022-04-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Jal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Jal Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 62.3 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 62.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Fishing Jal Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Jal 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-2201_01 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Jal Lake
Jal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lea County
Frequently asked questions about Jal Lake
Where is Jal Lake?
- Jal Lake is a lake in Lea County, New Mexico. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Jal Lake?
- Jal Lake in Lea County, New Mexico is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 62.3 µg/L.
Is Jal Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Jal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Jal Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- NM Environmental Dept./SWQB
21NMEX_WQX9 samples · 2021–2022
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