Maxwell NWR--Lake 12

Tips for Birding

Due to the reservoir being dry for many years, eBird species-frequency bar charts are not a good guide to what you can expect to see here. Indeed, if there’s no water, it’s much more likely you’ll see elk or pronghorn than any birds other than Western Meadowlark and Lark Sparrow. Birds observed as you drive Lake 13 Road into the Refuge, and definitely, if you travel out to see a Burrowing Owl at the prairie dog colony on County Road A-2 north of Lake 12, should be recorded for the general Refuge hotspot.

About this Location

The Lake 12 playa or reservoir is located west of Lake 13 Road and south of the Refuge Headquarters / Visitor Center. You can’t actually get to the lake, but there is a small parking and viewing area off Lake 13 Road. Some maps show the eastern shore of the lake extending almost to the road. In fact, the lake has been dry for many years, due to long-term drought which has resulted in little or no irrigation water being released to fill the reservoir. Though having at its greatest extent a surface area of over 330 acres, exceeding that of Lake 13, even when full the lake is shallow, reaching a maximum depth of only about 5 feet. Lake 13 and Lake 14 are much more likely to have water than Lake 12, even in years of low water releases by the irrigation district.

Water managed by the Vermejo Conservancy District is diverted from the Vermejo River and Chico Rico Creek, traveling via a series of canals to area lakes both on and off the Refuge. Thus, water flows into Lake 12 at its northwest corner, through an east-west canal over which County Road A-2 crosses just north of County Road A-65.   That canal is fed by the Lake 11 outflow lateral, and when water is scarce there are no releases out of the off-refuge Lake 11. Because the average evaporation rate of the lakes is more than twice that of precipitation, they are typically dry in years where irrigation water is not released to the Refuge by the District. 

About Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

See all hotspots at Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

The Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge presents visitors with a unique wildlife viewing experience. Visitors are treated to year-round views of hawks, owls, eagles, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed prairie dogs.

Located in northeastern New Mexico at an elevation of 6050 feet, Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 3,699 acres of short-grass prairie, playa lakes, woodlots, wetlands, and crop fields. The refuge sits in an open basin surrounded by high mesas to the northeast and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west. Since 1965 this landscape has been managed for the benefit of wildlife and has provided a feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds.

Birders and wildlife watchers can challenge themselves by attempting to check off all 289 species of birds found on the refuge. American kestrels, wild turkeys, and Wilson’s phalaropes are a few of the common species you will enjoy seeing at Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge.

Mid-October on the refuge is generally the peak fall migration of sandhill cranes, geese, and ducks. However, any time of year you are likely to see a diversity of wildlife. Wildlife watching is generally best during the morning and at dusk when wildlife is most active.

Rangeland on the refuge is rolling prairie and reclaimed farmland containing a variety of grasses including blue grama, galleta, sand dropseed, threeawn, and buffalo grass, as well as fourwing saltbush and cactus. Lakes on the refuge provide 700 acres of waterfowl roosting and feeding habitat. Wet years bring dense shoreline vegetation, while the lakes may disappear in dry years.

The refuge lakes and associated Stubblefield Lake are primarily for water storage for irrigation purposes for surrounding ranches and are managed by the local water manager. The refuge owns the surrounding grassland but not the water making water management impossible. Stubblefield Lake is privately owned. Fishing is allowed in some areas of the refuge.

From Raton, take I-25 south to Maxwell, go north on NM-445  for 0.8 miles, and west on NM-505 for approximately 2.5 miles. Turn north at the entrance sign (1.5 miles to headquarters).

The vault toilets by the parking area for Lake 13 are seasonally open and maintained. There are flush toilets in the Visitor Center (headquarters building), but that building is open on an extremely limited basis.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge Official Website, John Montgomery, and John Montgomery

Last updated September 19, 2023