Kayak Trip Lake Carlsbad 06-Oct.07

Lake Carlsbad in New Mexico is located in the heart of Carlsbad New Mexico. It has a boat ramp and is open to power boats and paddle craft. It is one of the easily accessible bodies of water from Alamogordo NM. It’s head waters come from natural springs and the Pecos river. It is dammed by the upper Tansil Dam. It is about 2.6 miles long and 70 yards wide. The beach area has a boat ramp and a sandy beach and swimming area.

On 06-Oct-07 we paddled to the Island North of the beach area about 1.5 miles. There we a variety of ducks, mallards, domestic mixed, coots a blue heron and the treat was an Osprey. This is the first Osprey I have seen in New Mexico through they are somewhat “common”. The kayak is bringing wildlife and especially birds closer to the adventure.

The week prior to the trip it was reported that there was a large fish kill at the lake. The suspicion was that it was due to a Golden Algae bloom. Golden Algae produces toxins that kill fish and other aquatic species. Including the endangered Hornshell Mussel which is know to be in the area, especially the Black River which empties into the Pecos river a few miles south of Carlsbad. There was little sign that any major kill of fish had occured.

Round trip was 3.6 miles. Average speed was 3.2 mph. Winds were out of the South at 5 – 7 mph. Easy paddle nice day to be out and about. The Osprey was a great treat.