USA > Southwest > New Mexico
Santa Rosa Lake is snuggled in the Pecos River Canyon near the town of Santa Rosa along NM 91. It is cradled on one side with acres of rolling grassland and encase by low, rocky hills dotted with a variety of brush on the other. Visitors will enjoy a host of recreational activities such as boating, fishing, camping, water skiing, and more.
Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1954, Santa Rosa Lake was created by impounding the Pecos River. Santa Rosa Dam and reservoir is used for flood control, sediment retention and irrigation storage. The completed dam stands 212 feet above the streambed and 1,950 feet long. Although there is not a permanent pool at Santa Rosa Lake due to water released periodically for irrigation use, in recent years lake levels have increased and become stabilized encouraging more activity at the lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns all the land surrounding Santa Rosa Lake and leases the area comprising the State Park to the State of New Mexico.
The town of Santa Rosa, the city of natural lakes, is not far from the lake that takes its name. The town of Santa Rosa is famous for natural sinkhole lakes, which are very popular among scuba divers. Visitors of Santa Rosa Lake may also enjoy the short drive to Blue Hole, an 81 foot deep natural artesian spring, which keeps a constant temperature of 61 degrees and delivers up to 3,000 gallons of water per minute.
Fishing is excellent in the Santa Rosa Lake. The lake is stocked by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department. Fish species include largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, crappie, sunfish, and yellow perch. Wild life viewing is another popular past time at Santa Rosa Lake. Depending on the time of year, Canadian Geese, pelicans, ring billed gulls, ducks, and even eagles may be sighted by an observing visitor. Along the sandstone shoreline mule deer, raccoons fox, and coyotes come down for a refreshing drink of the lake water.
The Santa Rosa State Park offers three recreational areas which consist of the Rocky Point Camping Area, the Juniper Park and Boat Ramp Area, and the Los Tanos Primitive Camping Area. The park covers a total area of 550 acres. Camping facilities include primitive as well as electric campsites and some of the amenities are picnic shelters, restrooms, boat ramps, and grills. The Santa Rosa State Park also has two paved hiking trails and two Day Use Facilities.
Whether visitors plan their vacation at Santa Rosa Lake, or stop by on their way to another destination, they will find lots to enjoy at the lake. Visitors may enjoy Santa Rosa Lake so much that it becomes a regular vacation site.
Santa Rosa Lake: Messaging Forums
Lake Map (Posted by Sarah Enquist [senquist])
New Mexico Game and Fish (Posted by Sarah Enquist [senquist])
Santa Rosa State Park (Posted by Sarah Enquist [senquist])
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Posted by Sarah Enquist [senquist])
This lake was last edited by Sarah Enquist (senquist) on 6/19/08.
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