Heron Lake (New Mexico)

Reservoir in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

Heron Lake

Heron Lake

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Heron Lake

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Location| Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
Coordinates| 36°41′N 106°41′W﻿ / ﻿36.69°N 106.69°W﻿ / 36.69; -106.69
Type| reservoir
Basin countries| United States
Max. length| 4 mi (6 km)
Max. width| 3 mi (5 km)
Surface area| 5,900 acres (24 km2)
Water volume| 401,000 acre-feet (495,000,000 m3)
Surface elevation| 7,186 feet (2,190 m)
Location of Heron Lake within New Mexico

Heron Lake is a reservoir in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. The reservoir is part of the San Juan–Chama Project, which connects the San Juan River in Colorado to the Rio Chama, which is part of the Rio Grande watershed.[1] Lake Heron is 80 miles northwest of Santa Fe.

Water is impounded in Heron Lake by the 1,250-foot (380 m) long, 263-foot (80 m) high Heron Dam, which was completed in 1971. The 5,900-acre (24 km2) lake is approximately 4 miles (6 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and lies at an elevation of up to 7,186 feet (2,190 m). Heron Dam is owned and operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation.

The Brazos Cliffs, Heron Lake, and the north wall of the Rio Chama Gorge, looking east.

The southern shore is the location of Heron Lake State Park, featuring over 200 camping and picnic sites, and two improved boat ramps. The lake is a destination for salmon and trout fishing, as well as for small boat sailing. Boat speeds are restricted by a 'no-wake' policy. A 5.5-mile (8.9 km) hiking trail crosses the Rio Chama Gorge via a pedestrian suspension bridge, and then runs southwest through wooded terrain to the grounds of El Vado Lake State Park.[2]

The lake, dam, and state park are named for Kenneth A. Heron, an engineer in the early 1900s who first explored the concept of diverting water from Colorado to the desert regions of southern New Mexico.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Heron Lake State Park". Recreation.gov. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
2. ^ "Heron Lake State Park". New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

## External links

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* Heron Lake State Park

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Protected areas of New Mexico

National Parks|

* Carlsbad Caverns
* White Sands

National Historical Parks|

* Chaco Culture
* Manhattan Project
* Pecos

National monuments|

* Aztec Ruins
* Bandelier
* Capulin Volcano
* El Malpais
* El Morro
* Fort Union
* Gila Cliff Dwellings
* Petroglyph
* Salinas Pueblo Missions

National Recreation Areas|

* Jemez (USFS)

National Trails|

* Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
* Old Spanish Trail
* Santa Fe Trail

National Forests|

* Apache–Sitgreaves
* Carson
* Cibola
* Coronado
* Gila
* Lincoln
* Santa Fe

National Grasslands|

* Kiowa

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Bitter Lake
* Bosque del Apache
* Grulla
* Las Vegas
* Maxwell
* San Andres
* Sevilleta
* Valle de Oro

National Conservation Areas|

* El Malpais
* Fort Stanton–Snowy River Cave

BLM National Monuments|

* Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
* Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks
* Prehistoric Trackways
* Rio Grande del Norte

National Natural Landmarks|

* List of National Natural Landmarks in New Mexico

National Preserves|

* Valles Caldera

Wilderness|

* Aldo Leopold
* Apache Kid
* Bandelier
* Bisti/De-Na-Zin
* Blue Range
* Bosque del Apache
* Capitan Mountains
* Carlsbad Caverns
* Cebolla
* Chama River Canyon
* Columbine–Hondo
* Cruces Basin
* Dome
* Gila
* Latir Peak
* Manzano Mountain
* Ojito
* Pecos
* Sabinoso
* Salt Creek
* San Pedro Parks
* Sandia Mountain
* West Malpais
* Wheeler Peak
* White Mountain
* Withington

Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* East Fork Jemez River
* Pecos River
* Red River
* Rio Chama
* Rio Grande

State Parks|

* Bluewater Lake
* Bottomless Lakes
* Brantley Lake
* Caballo Lake
* Cerrillos Hills
* Cimarron Canyon
* City of Rocks
* Clayton Lake
* Conchas Lake
* Coyote Creek
* Eagle Nest Lake
* El Vado Lake
* Elephant Butte Lake
* Fenton Lake
* Heron Lake
* Hyde Memorial
* Leasburg Dam
* Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
* Manzano Mountains
* Mesilla Valley Bosque
* Morphy Lake
* Navajo Lake
* Oasis
* Oliver Lee Memorial
* Pancho Villa
* Percha Dam
* Rio Grande Nature Center
* Rockhound
* Santa Rosa Lake
* Storrie Lake
* Sugarite Canyon
* Sumner Lake
* Ute Lake
* Villanueva

* New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources

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