Monte Verde Lake
Colfax County, New Mexico29 acresView 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.
- Limited data
Monte Verde Lake in Colfax County, New Mexico is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Surface area: 29 acres.
- Area
- 29 acres
- Phosphorus
- 102 µg/L
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Watch Monte Verde Lake’s letter
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Why Monte Verde 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 Monte Verde Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity 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.
Monte Verde Lake is a 29-acre lake in Colfax County, New Mexico.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NMED, last sampled 2021-07-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Monte Verde Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 102 µg/L. TSI 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 102 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Monte Verde Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Monte Verde Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Monte Verde Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Monte Verde Dam (completed 1968), built primarily for recreation on the Cienegulla Creek; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 908 ft long.
- Surface area
- 29 ac
- Normal storage
- 218 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 435 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- ANGEL FIRE CORPORATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00135 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Colfax County
Frequently asked questions about Monte Verde Lake
Where is Monte Verde Lake?
- Monte Verde Lake is a lake in Colfax 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 Monte Verde Lake?
- Monte Verde Lake in Colfax County, New Mexico is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Surface area: 29 acres.
Is Monte Verde Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Monte Verde Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- NM Environmental Dept./SWQB
21NMEX_WQX1 sample · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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.