Navajo Lake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Navajo Lake | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Rio Arriba County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Juan River |
| Primary outflows | San Juan River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 15,600 acres (63 km²) |
| Surface elevation | 6,085 ft (1,855 m) |
Navajo Lake is a reservoir located mostly in Rio Arriba County, in northwestern New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Portions of the reservoir extend into Archuleta County in southern Colorado. The lake is part of the Colorado River Storage Project, which here manages the upper reaches of the San Juan River, storing and releasing water that is used locally for irrigation, or ultimately reaching the Colorado River in Utah. Water is impounded in Navajo Lake by the earth- and rock-filled Navajo Dam, 3,800 feet (1,160 m) long and 400 feet (120 m) high, completed in 1962. The 15,600-acre (63 km²) lake is over 25 miles (40 km) long, and lies at an elevation of up to 6,085 feet (1,855 m).
Two shoreline areas near the dam in New Mexico are part of the Navajo Lake State Park, featuring over 200 camping and picnic sites, and two improved boat ramps and a marina. The river shorelines below the dam are also part of the state park, as well as a BLM Recreation Area. An area in Colorado near the head of the lake is the Navajo State Recreation Area. The lake is an excellent destination for camping and general boating, as well as for salmon and trout fishing.
