o 



CM 

 CO 



O NM 3. Sink Hole Group. Acreage: About 50. 



O 



X Location: Chaves County; Bitter Lake and Bottomless Lakes quadrangles; 15 



^ miles E of Roswell; reached via U.S. 380, U.S. 70, and county roads. 



^ Description: Sinks form an unique ecologic-geologic type, averaging in size 



2 from less than an acre to approximately 12 acres. Average depth generally 



ranges from 20-120 ft. Water is generally saline, supporting only limited fish 

 populations and containing various groups of Chara, including the marine form, 

 Batophora, found inland only in these sink habitats. Sink holes occur in rolling 

 shad-scale, mesquite desert type, generally ringed with salt cedars. Major groups 

 include: ( 1 ) Ink Pots ( 10 sinks with 4-5 total surface acres on the northern por- 

 tion of Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, requested for inclusion in wil- 

 derness area); (2) South Refuge Group (30 sinks with 20-30 total surface area 

 acres, designated by Director, BSFW, as Natural Area status); (3) Bottomless 

 Lake Group (12-15 sinks with 20-30 surface acres, managed as a recreational 

 area by the New Mexico State Parks Department); (4) Nondesignated Areas 

 (include various sinks occurring on BLM land). 



Encroachments: No serious encroachment problems exist. Refuge sinks are 

 managed so as to retain an unique geologic phenomenon; however, state park 

 tracts are managed as recreational sites and receive heavy public use. 



Ownership: BSFW, New Mexico State Park System, and BLM. 



Data source: William T. Krummes, Regional Director, BSFW, Division of Wil- 

 dlife Services, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Ralph Little, Fisheries Biologist, New Mexico 

 Department of Game & Fish. 



