Bluewater Lake water level — New Mexico
Bluewater Lake in New Mexico was last measured at 7,364.46 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 1:15 AM (UTC-06:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.6 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 3,083 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.6 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Aug 31, 2026 — a 89-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USGS site 08341400, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
About this gauge's record
This site's drainage basin covers approximately 201 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Bluewater Lake
Bluewater Lake is held back by Bluewater Dam , a concrete arch, curved upstream so the load is carried sideways into the abutments , standing 99 ft high and running 655 ft along its crest , built across BLUEWATER CREEK in Cibola County , near BLUEWATER . It was completed in 1927 and modified in 1986 , and is owned by BLUEWATER-TOLTEC IRRIGATION DISTRICT (a local government owner) .
Its recorded primary purpose is irrigation — the pool is drawn down across the growing season to serve water rights downstream, then refilled over winter . It also serves irrigation;recreation.
It is founded on unlisted/unknown. Its spillway is ungated: once the pool reaches the crest, water leaves on its own and the operator cannot hold it back. The spillway opening is 195 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate)0;valve0.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in. Its most recent condition assessment was fair: sound under normal loading, though a rare or extreme event could expose a deficiency. That assessment is dated 06/11/2025.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 1,730 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 44,150 acre-ft against a normal storage of 38,510 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 3,260 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NM00239 , filed by New Mexico — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USGS Water Services and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Bluewater Lake compares nearby
3 of 5 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zuni Salt Lake | NM | 6,221.49 ft | 111 km |
| Jemez Canyon Reservoir | NM | 5,126.37 ft | 142 km |
| Lyman Lake | AZ | — | 155 km |
| Cochiti Lake | NM | 5,344.66 ft | 167 km |
| Galisteo Reservoir | NM | 5,500.00 ft | 174 km |
| Navajo Reservoir | NM | 6,013.41 ft | 174 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Bluewater Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 1:15 AM (UTC-06:00), the pool elevation was 7,364.46 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Bluewater Lake full right now?
- Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 08341400, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in New Mexico
See every lake tracked in New Mexico, or read the methodology behind these figures.