Heron Lake in northern New Mexico is a reservoir about eighty miles northwest of Santa Fe and part of the San Juan–Chama Project, which transfers water from Colorado’s San Juan River into the Rio Chama within the Rio Grande watershed. Formed by Heron Dam, completed in 1971 and operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the reservoir serves both water management and recreation. Its southern shore includes Heron Lake State Park, with camping, picnic areas, boat ramps, fishing, sailing, and a hiking trail crossing the Rio Chama Gorge. The lake, dam, and park honor engineer Kenneth A. Heron, who early on envisioned diverting water to drier parts of southern New Mexico.