Brantley Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brantley Lake |
|
|---|---|
 Brantley Lake
Location in New Mexico
Brantley Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Eddy County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 32°34′34″N 104°23′19″W / 32.57618°N 104.38866°W |
| Type | Irrigation Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Pecos River |
| Primary outflows | Pecos River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 4,000 acres (16 km2) |
| Water volume | 335,054 acre⋅ft (413,283,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 3,300 ft (1,000 m) |
Brantley Lake is a large lake in New Mexico. It is not a natural lake, but a reservoir. This means it was created by building a dam across a river. Brantley Lake is located in the southeastern part of New Mexico. It is about 12 miles (19 km) north of a town called Carlsbad. The lake is part of a state park, which is a great place for outdoor activities.
Contents
Discover Brantley Lake
Brantley Lake is a man-made lake. It was formed by building the Brantley Dam. This dam was finished in the 1980s. It was part of a big project by the United States Bureau of Reclamation.
Why Was Brantley Lake Built?
The main reason Brantley Dam was built was to replace an older dam. The old dam, called McMillan Dam, was not safe anymore. So, Brantley Dam was built to take its place.
Building the dam also brought many other benefits. It helps with irrigation, which means providing water for farms. It also helps control floods. The dam protects the area from too much water during heavy rains.
Fun Things to Do at Brantley Lake
Brantley Lake State Park is a popular spot for visitors. It is located in the Chihuahuan Desert. This desert covers parts of New Mexico.
Many people enjoy fishing at Brantley Lake. You can catch different kinds of warm water fish here. Some of the fish you might find include:
- largemouth bass
- walleye
- channel catfish
- white bass
- bluegill
- crappie
Wildlife Around the Lake
Brantley Lake is part of a larger area called the Brantley Wildlife area. This special area stretches for about 11 miles (18 km). It runs north to south in southeastern New Mexico. This wildlife area helps protect many different animals and plants.
