Mescalero Lake Shallow
Otero County, New Mexico104 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Temperature
- #2 of 4 in the county
Mescalero Lake Shallow in Otero County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 104 acres.
- Area
- 104 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 50 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Mescalero Lake Shallow’s letter
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Mescalero Lake Shallow is a 104-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Otero County, New Mexico. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Otero County, Mescalero Lake Shallow ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2024-12-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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. Mescalero Lake Shallow is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.6 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Mescalero Lake Shallow, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Mescalero Lake Shallow
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 9 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mescalero Lake Shallow is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Mescalero (completed 1974), built primarily for recreation on the Carrizo Creek; earth-type dam, 93 ft tall and 1,335 ft long.
- Surface area
- 104 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,190 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,150 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BIA
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00161 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.82 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Mescalero Lake Shallow 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 (2.6 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Otero County
Nearby Lakes in Otero County
Frequently asked questions about Mescalero Lake Shallow
Where is Mescalero Lake Shallow?
- Mescalero Lake Shallow is a lake in Otero 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 Mescalero Lake Shallow?
- Mescalero Lake Shallow in Otero County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 104 acres.
Is Mescalero Lake Shallow safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mescalero Lake Shallow is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for temperature. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Mescalero Lake Shallow 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
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Mescalero Apache Tribe DRMP (Tribal)
DRMPWQX53 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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