The construction of the dam and the resulting lake flooded and destroyed one of the Navajos' most sacred sites.

[2] The Lake and associated shoreline areas near the dam in New Mexico and the river shorelines below the dam are part of New Mexico's Navajo Lake State Park, while the Portion of the shoreline and portion of the lake that is located in Colorado make up Navajo State Park which is managed as part of the Colorado State Parks system.

The lake has smallmouth bass, black crappie, northern pike, channel catfish, and trout.

The waters of Navajo Lake forced hundreds of families to leave their homes and communities.

[3] The 1.7 million acre-foot reservoir displaced an unknown amount of farms and ranches.