| Ownership |
New Mexico State Parks, 141 Clayton
Lake Road, Clayton NM 88415, 505-374-8808 |
| Habitats |
Grassland, Desert, Wetlands (lake, stream), Rocks |
| Land-use |
Tourism/recreation |
| Threats |
None listed |
| Site Criteria |
State conservation species (D1), State waterfowl (D4ii) |
| Site Description |
A man-made lake created on
Seneca Creek and surrounded by grasslands. This is the largest lake in Union
County and often remains at least partially ice free during the entire winter.
The lake and surrounding cliffs/hillsides are managed by New Mexico State Parks.
Hillsides surrounding the lake are covered with junipers and shrubs, providing a
"different than usual" habitat.
Along the spillway,
more than 500 dinosaur footprints have been preserved and identified.
Plant-eating and carnivorous dinosaurs, as well as some ancient crocodiles, made
these prints. |
| Birds |
The 170-acre lake is a waterfowl
resting area in winter, when fishing is prohibited. New Mexico State Parks
manages the park for the benefit of birds as well as people. Waterfowl,
primarily Canada Goose and Mallard, in winter of 1996 through 2000
averaged 6500 with a maximum of 9410. Both Trumpeter Swan and Tundra
Swan have been seen at the lake during the Christmas Bird Counts. A bird
list is available and was derived from observations made during the Audubon
Society Christmas Bird Count in 2001 and 2002. |
| Conservation Issues |
None listed |
| Conservation Plan |
Clayton Lake State Park Management and Development Plan (draft) |
| Monitor(s) |
None assigned. |
| Nominator |
Christopher Rustay, 1824 Stanford Drive NE,
Albuquerque, NM, 87106 |
| Sources |
Christmas Bird Counts 97-103 (CBC) |
| Links |
Clayton Lake State Park
eBird
New Mexico Hot Spot |
| Directions |
Clayton Lake State Park is 12 miles north of Clayton via NM 370. |
