Silver Lake Deep
Otero County, New Mexico9 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
Silver Lake Deep in Otero County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Surface area: 9.1 acres.
- Area
- 9 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 50 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 1.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Silver Lake Deep
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Lake Deep in Otero 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Silver Lake Deep
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at New Mexico’s top lakes →
Watch Silver Lake Deep’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Silver Lake Deep is a 9-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 improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Otero County, Silver Lake Deep ranks #3 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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.3 µg/L. TSI 47. 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) | 1.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Silver Lake Deep, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Silver Lake Deep
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 9 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Silver Lake Deep is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Silver Lake (completed 1963), built primarily for recreation on the Silver Springs Creek -TR; earth-type dam, 57 ft tall and 535 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 125 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 193.1 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.95 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BIA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NM00160 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.02 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Otero County
Nearby Lakes in Otero County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake Deep
Where is Silver Lake Deep?
- Silver Lake Deep 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 Silver Lake Deep?
- Silver Lake Deep in Otero County, New Mexico has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Surface area: 9.1 acres.
Is Silver Lake Deep safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Silver Lake 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.
New Mexico's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New Mexico Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in New Mexico
Oligotrophic Lakes in New Mexico
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Mescalero Apache Tribe DRMP (Tribal)
DRMPWQX52 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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.