Rare species of Pecos pupfish and rainwater killifish are inhabitants. Fishing is allowed year-round, where stocked, if you have a New Mexico State fishing license with a trout validation. The Devil's Inkwell is also stocked with rainbow trout in the winter. Overnight campsites, drinking water and chemical toilets are available nearby. Lea Lake, the largest of the lakes, is the only place where you can swim or rent hydro bikes, paddle boards or rafts for a nominal fee, from the first weekend in May through Labor Day.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer, and the sandy beach is well-maintained.
The springs that feed the lake receive their water through a honeycomb of underground channels that bring water from the Sacramento Mountains west of Roswell . At least part of the water in Lea Lake flows from the opposite direction by gravity from rock layers east of the area. Although the water appears to circulate in and out of the lakes through underground means, the ultimate destination of the water is unknown. Some have speculated that it appears in Carlsbad Caverns, some 100 miles to the south, but that is doubtful. Recently, because of the clarity of the water, scuba diving has become popular.