El Vado Lake reservoir
El Vado Lake
El Vado Lake is a reservoir located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The lake was created in 1935 by the El Vado Dam on the Rio Chama, which is a tributary of the Rio Grande. The hydrology of the lake is primarily sourced by the Rio Chama and its tributaries, as well as snowpack from the surrounding mountains. The lake is used for both agricultural and recreational purposes, including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. The area surrounding the lake was once inhabited by the Pueblo people, and later became a hub for Spanish colonization. Today, the lake is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, with numerous amenities and facilities available for visitors.
Daily levels at El Vado Lake
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 17
Pool Elevation
ft · code 49
Total Release
cfs · code 42
Water surface elevation
feet · code 4
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around El Vado Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Chama Below El Vado Dam | 156 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 158 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Above Abiquiu Reservoir | 172 cfs | → |
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 89 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam | 216 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Vado Lake.
⛺ Campgrounds
- El Vado Lake State Park
- Heron Lake State Park
- Stone Lake
- Rio Chama Campground, Small Group Sites
- Rio Chama Campground
- Rio Chama
🎣 Fishing spots
- Rio Nutritas Fishing
- Hidden Lakes Fishing
- Rio Chama Fishing
- El Rito Creek Fishing
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
Track El Vado Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About El Vado Lake
Where does the data for El Vado Lake come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of El Vado Lake.