Red Bluff Reservoir is a
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...
on the
Pecos River north of
Pecos, Texas
Pecos ( ) is the largest city in and the county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States. It is in the valley on the west bank of the Pecos River at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and just so ...
. The reservoir extends into
Loving and
Reeves Counties in Texas, and
Eddy County in
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
. The northern shoreline of the reservoir is the lowest point in the state of New Mexico. The reservoir was formed in 1936 by the construction of a dam by the
Red Bluff Water Control District to provide water for
irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been devel ...
and
hydroelectric power. The reservoir is also used for recreational activities. With an elevation of above sea level, it is the lowest point in New Mexico.
Fish and plant life
Red Bluff Reservoir has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing and swimming. Fish present in Red Bluff Reservoir include
white bass
The white bass, silver bass, or sand bass (''Morone chrysops'') is a freshwater fish of the temperate bass family Moronidae. commonly around 12-15 inches long. The species' main color is silver-white to pale green. Its back is dark, with white ...
and
hybrid striped bass
A hybrid striped bass, also known as a wiper or whiterock bass, is a hybrid between the striped bass (''Morone saxatilis'') and the white bass (''M. chrysops''). It can be distinguished from the striped bass by broken rather than solid horizont ...
. Vegetation in the lake includes
sago pondweed.
Recreational uses
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
is a popular recreational use of the lake.
External links
Red Bluff Reservoir - Texas Parks & Wildlife*
{{authority control
Reservoirs in Texas
Reservoirs in New Mexico
Protected areas of Loving County, Texas
Protected areas of Reeves County, Texas
Bodies of water of Eddy County, New Mexico
Buildings and structures in Eddy County, New Mexico
Protected areas of Eddy County, New Mexico
Pecos, Texas