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LakeQuality

Data Report · Updated July 2026

The State of New Mexico’s Lakes 2026

Of 78 monitored lakes in New Mexico, 50% earn a water-quality grade of A or B and 21.8% score D or F (average grade C). Nla Lake is the cleanest;

78
Monitored lakes graded
C
Average grade
50%
Grade A or B
0%
On impaired list

New Mexico grade distribution

A
B
C
D
F
A: 17 (21.8%)B: 22 (28.2%)C: 22 (28.2%)D: 12 (15.4%)F: 5 (6.4%)

Cleanest lakes in New Mexico

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

  1. 1.ANla Lake — San Juan County14.4 ft clarity · 14 µg/L P · 0 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.ANla Lake — San Miguel County2.3 ft clarity · 22 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.ANla Lake — San Miguel County8.2 ft clarity · 18 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.ANla Lake — Colfax County10.5 ft clarity · 25 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.ANla Lake — Colfax County8.2 ft clarity · 24 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.AFenton Lake — Sandoval County7.9 ft clarity · 14 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.AFigure Eight Lake — Chaves County6.9 ft clarity · 17 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.BHeron Lake Deep Dam — Rio Arriba County3.7 ft clarity · 29 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.BAbiquiu Reservoir — Rio Arriba County3.3 ft clarity · 40 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.BAbiquiu Reservoir Chama R Inlet — Rio Arriba County3.3 ft clarity · 36 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

  1. 1.FBluewater Lake — Cibola County2.0 ft clarity · 108 µg/L P · 112 µg/L chl-a
  2. 2.DNla Lake — San Juan County0.8 ft clarity · 159000 µg/L P · 26 µg/L chl-a
  3. 3.DNla Lake — Colfax County0.3 ft clarity · 231000 µg/L P · 28 µg/L chl-a
  4. 4.DHopewell Lake — Rio Arriba County3.9 ft clarity · 76 µg/L P · 53 µg/L chl-a
  5. 5.DQuemado Dam Lake — Catron County8.0 ft clarity · 114 µg/L P · 23 µg/L chl-a
  6. 6.DNla Lake — Colfax County4.5 ft clarity · 28000 µg/L P · 11 µg/L chl-a
  7. 7.DJal Lake — Lea County3.9 ft clarity · 35 µg/L P · 62 µg/L chl-a
  8. 8.CNla Lake — Mora County2.7 ft clarity · 138 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
  9. 9.CNla Lake — Santa Fe County8.5 ft clarity · 30000 µg/L P · 5 µg/L chl-a
  10. 10.CAlto Lake — Lincoln County8.9 ft clarity · 162 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

  1. 1.FBluewater Lake — Cibola County112 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  2. 2.FSix Mile Dam Lake — Eddy County110 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  3. 3.DJal Lake — Lea County62 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  4. 4.DHopewell Lake — Rio Arriba County53 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  5. 5.FLake Roberts — Grant County41 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  6. 6.DCaballo Lake — Sierra County37 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  7. 7.DNla Lake — Colfax County28 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  8. 8.DNla Lake — San Juan County26 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  9. 9.DBurns Lake Deep — Rio Arriba County24 µg/L chlorophyll-a
  10. 10.DQuemado Dam Lake — Catron County23 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Explore New Mexico lakes

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Grades combine Secchi clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a from the EPA Water Quality Portal and state agencies. See the full methodology, the national State of America’s Lakes report, or all New Mexico lakes.

Cite this report: LakeQuality, “The State of New Mexico’s Lakes 2026,” lakequality.org/report/nm.