Water levels rise at Navajo Lake

NAVAJO LAKE, N.M. – Navajo Lake has surged 61-plus feet since Sept. 14 and now sits 14 feet from the top of the spillway after weeks of heavy rain and flooding.

Back in early October, the lake sat near its lowest level since 2004. After weeks of heavy rain and flooding across the Four Corners, the lake rose sharply.

“We’re up over 24 feet in the last two weeks and 61 plus feet since September 14th,” Navajo Lake Marina President Jarrett Johnson said.

Johnson said the lake received more than 200 billion gallons of water, and lake levels continue to rise four to five inches a day.

He said the current level is the highest the lake has been this late in the year since the dam was built in 1962.

“We’re now 14 feet from the top of the spillway. We’re not in any imminent threat of it cresting the spillway, but it’s just nice to see water back on that spillway for the first time in a long time,” Johnson said.

The higher water also means crews must carefully manage what flows back down the San Juan River. During the flooding, the dam kept releases at about 250 cubic feet per second, with the river already damaged and rerouted in several places downstream.

“I’m glad to see it up this high. I’m concerned about the winter snowpack. If we get a good heavy snowpack… but if then we get an early melt, we could have a repeat of this and an even worse repeat,” long-time lake visitor John-Olav Johnsen said.

For now, the higher water is bringing optimism for the marina, even with some cleanup still ahead.

“It’s setting us up perfect for a 2027 season. It’s going to be a great year,” Johnson said.

Johnson said once the water clears up in the spring, boaters could explore parts of the lake that have not been seen in years. The hope is the water stays around after the dramatic turnaround.

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