Nichols Reservoir water level — New Mexico
Nichols Reservoir in New Mexico was last measured at 7,474.60 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 1:45 AM (UTC-06:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−4.9 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 358 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−4.9 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 08316500, 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 23 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Nichols Reservoir
Nichols Reservoir is held back by Nichols Dam (also recorded as Four Mile Dam) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 91 ft high and running 622 ft along its crest , built across SANTA FE RIVER in Santa Fe County , near SANTA FE . It was completed in 1943 and modified in 1983;1988;2014 , and is owned by CITY OF SANTA FE (a local government owner) , to a design credited to MEURER, SERAFINI AND MEURER;S;SANDERSON & PORTER.
Its recorded primary purpose is water supply — delivering water to its customers comes first, so drawdown here follows demand as much as it follows rainfall .
It is founded on rock;soil. 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 87 ft wide. Its outlet works use 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 poor — a deficiency was recognised that needs attention. That assessment is dated 10/12/2023.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 30 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 1,234 acre-ft against a normal storage of 679 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 19,690 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NM00241 , 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 Nichols Reservoir compares nearby
3 of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcclure Reservoir | NM | 7,834.23 ft | 4 km |
| Nambe Falls Reservoir | NM | 6,808.72 ft | 18 km |
| Galisteo Reservoir | NM | 5,500.00 ft | 39 km |
| Cochiti Lake | NM | 5,344.66 ft | 40 km |
| Jemez Canyon Reservoir | NM | 5,126.37 ft | 69 km |
| Abiquiu Reservoir | NM | 6,198.99 ft | 79 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Nichols Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 1:45 AM (UTC-06:00), the pool elevation was 7,474.60 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Nichols Reservoir 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 08316500, 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.