El Vado Lake
Also known as: El Vado Reservoir
Locations
USA > Southwest > New Mexico
El Vado Lake: Description
El Vado Lake, situated in New Mexico's northern mountains, is located west of Tierra Amarilla. Surrounded by acres of mixed juniper and sandstone formations, El Vado Lake is a delightful get away. The lake stretches five miles, and has approximately 12 miles of shoreline. Recreational activities include boating, swimming, waterskiing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
El Vado Lake was formed by impounding the waters form the Chama and Brazos Rivers which flow from the San Juan Mountain Range. The construction of El Vado reservoir began in 1933 and its original propose was to provide conservation storage for irrigation use on the middle Rio Grande lands. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District completed the dam in 1935, and the dam was updated and modified in later years by the Bureau of Reclamation which now controls the dam. El Vado Dam is steel and earth filled dam and is one of the few dams in the world to incorporate a metal face to impound water.
Boating and water skiing are favorite pastimes on El Vado Lake. Unlike some of the other nearby likes, El Vado is not designated as a wake less lake. However, El Vado does offer a large area for flat-water paddlers. That way kayakers or canoers can enjoy their time at the lake was well as other boaters. There is a boat ramp located at the north end of the lake via State 95. In addition to boating, fishing is very popular at El Vado Lake. Largemouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill and kokanee salmon are some of the fish anglers enjoy catching. El Vado Lake is stocked annually with two-inch rainbow fry by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stocks Visitors who are fishing will need a state license and a trout stamp.
Visitors can enjoy five different campgrounds at El Vado Lake State Park. Three of the five campgrounds are developed and the other two are primitive. There is a five and a half mile scenic trail along the Rio Chama that connects El Vado Lake with the nearby Heron Lake. Nature watchers may enjoy viewing red-tailed hawks, and ospreys or bald eagles in the winter. The State Park is managed by the New Mexico Division of Parks and Recreation under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation.
Winter or summer there is something for everyone at EL Vado Lake. When temperatures begin to rise during the summer months you can expect El Vado Lake to be full of water skiers and pleasure boats and watercrafts of all kinds. When cooler months arrive hunters and anglers become prominent around the lake. Visitors will have a fun and relaxing time no matter when they visit.
El Vado Lake: Statistics
- Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed
- Water level control: US Bureau of Reclamation
- Area: 3,200 acres
- Shoreline length: 12 miles
- Normal elevation: 6,901 feet
- Maximum depth: 170 feet
- Volume: 195,440 acre-feet
- Completion year: 1935
- Catchment area: 492 sq.miles
