Boat ramp temporarily closed at Santa Rosa Lake State Park

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 16 May 2024 16 May 2024

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water for Carlsbad Irrigation District dropping the lake’s level by 32 feet


Santa Rosa, NM – The New Mexico State Parks Division announces the temporary closure of the boat ramp at Santa Rosa Lake State Park due to a significant water release by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).


The USACE Albuquerque District announced that it would conduct a block release of water from Santa Rosa Lake this week that will drop the lake’s level by approximately 32 feet. The Bureau of Reclamation, acting on behalf of Carlsbad Irrigation District, requested the 25,250 acre-feet release that’s expected to last until May 23.


“The boat ramp will remain closed until the lake returns to a safe level from monsoon rain and runoff,” said Toby Velasquez, State Parks Division Director. “The water that makes up Santa Rosa Lake belongs to the Carlsbad Irrigation District. The State Parks Division manages the park, while the USACE manages the reservoir and the water in it. Camping is still available at the park, and we invite visitors to come out and enjoy the many other recreational activities until boating access returns to the lake.”


Santa Rosa Dam is the first major dam along the Pecos River, and its reservoir has a 2,434 square mile contributing drainage area. The other two dams, Sumner Lake Dam, and Brantley Dam are owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Santa Rosa Reservoir is a main component in the Pecos River Basin comprehensive plan, providing irrigation storage, flood control, and sediment retention to the basin.
For more information call Santa Rosa Lake State Park at (575) 472-3110, or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (505) 342-3171.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.