Santa Rosa Lake State Park, Recreational state park in Guadalupe County, New Mexico.
Santa Rosa Lake State Park is a New Mexico state park in Guadalupe County, 7 miles (11 km) north of the town of Santa Rosa via New Mexico Route 91. It opened in 1981 at an elevation of 4,800 feet (1,500 m) and is centered on the 3,800-acre (15 km²) Santa Rosa Reservoir, with juniper and pinyon as the dominant trees.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Santa Rosa Dam in the 1970s to store water and prevent flooding in the surrounding region. The dam created the lake that is now the park's defining feature.
The park's reservoir is named after the town of Santa Rosa, reached 7 miles (11 km) to the south via New Mexico Route 91. Juniper and pinyon are the dominant trees around the lake, and the 3,800-acre (15 km²) reservoir draws anglers for largemouth bass, catfish and walleye.
The area is accessible via New Mexico Route 91 about 7 miles north of Santa Rosa city and has multiple boat ramps and camping areas. Visitors should be prepared for the dry conditions and bring plenty of water, especially if planning to hike.
The reservoir covers 3,800 acres (15 km²), and among its fish are walleye, a species not mentioned in most quick descriptions of the park. The lake is fed by the Santa Rosa Dam, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s.
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