Historical Marker
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County · New Mexico
The water in this panel's reservoir belongs to farmers far down the Pecos. Santa Rosa Lake keeps no permanent pool: the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam in the 1970s to store irrigation water for the Carlsbad Irrigation District, catch floods and trap sediment, and it releases water when the district calls for it. A release in July 2026 dropped the lake about thirty-six feet, from forty percent of capacity to three, and closed the boat ramp. Planned as Los Esteros, the lake took Santa Rosa's name in 1980.
What the plaque says
Official Scenic Historic Marker Santa Rosa Lake State Park Pronghorn antelope may be seen grazing near this reservoir on the Pecos River, at the edge of the LlanoEstacado - the famed "Staked Plains." The park offers water sports; fishing for catfish, bass, and walleyes; camping/ picnicking sites, a visitor center, and a boat ramp.
Where it stands
34.94849, -104.68707 · Directions
Worth the stop nearby
- Blue Hole — 0.9 miA bell-shaped artesian spring in Santa Rosa, 81 feet deep and a steady 61 or 62 degrees, where divers from across the region learn to dive at altitude.
More markers nearby
- Santa Rosa — 0.8 mi
- Santa Rosa — 1.0 mi
- Santa Rosa — 2.1 mi
- Puerto de Luna — 8.9 mi