Natural Resources

Park rangers have been working with volunteers to build over 5 miles of sustainable single track trail within Abiquiu’s recreational facilities.

Partnerships have also yielded grants that have allowed at risk teens to be employed by non-profits like the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.

During FY 2011, the Abiquiu Maintenance Staff provided assistance to the Santa Clara Pueblo in the aftermath of the Las Conchas Fire. The fire was the most devastating in New Mexico state history and posed a dangerous erosion problem for the Santa Clara Canyon and the Pueblo. The Abiquiu Crew assisted in the cleanup and stabilization of the areas most susceptible to high erosion.

Abiquiu Lake also hosts special events including the annual mid-winter Eagle Watch and offers volunteer opportunities for National Public Lands Day every September. See below for more information. 

Eagle Watch

The Abiquiu Project hosts the annual Eagle Watch program. Volunteers are invited to participate in the counting of the lake’s winter eagle population. The purpose of the watch is to collect data to assist in national and local tracking of the birds’ numbers.

The survey represents a unique source of long-term, baseline data. Unlike nesting surveys, it provides information on both breeding and non-breeding segments of the population at a potentially limiting time of year.

Click here to read about the 2025 Eagle Watch event.

National Public Lands Day

Abiquiu Lake hosts annual National Public Lands Day celebration events. Volunteers assist the lake staff with shoreline cleanup, river cleanup, trail work and landscaping. Click here to read about the 2024 National Public Lands Day event.

Photos from the 2025 Eagle Watch event

Some of the volunteers went out on lake on the patrol boat to observe eagles during the Abiquiu Lake midwinter eagle survey, Jan. 11, 2025.
Volunteers look for eagles at one of the fixed observation points look for eagles during the Abiquiu Lake eagle watch, Jan. 11, 2025.
Two of the 17 total eagles spotted during the Abiquiu Lake eagle watch, Jan. 11, 2025.