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New Melones Lake is the fifth largest reservoir in California and the most recent major project incorporated into the Central Valley Project. Construction of New Melones Dam was completed in 1979; the dam holds water from the Stanislaus River and other tributaries within a 980 square mile watershed. When full, the storage capacity is 2.4 million-acre feet, with 100 miles (160 km) of surrounding shoreline. The surface area of New Melones Lake is 12,500 acres (5,058 hectare [ha]), and surrounding public lands are approximately 17,500 acres (7,080 ha), for a total of 30,000 acres (12,140 ha). The lake is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at approximately 1,100 feet (330 m) above sea level. The New Melones Dam is 60 miles (96 km) upstream from the confluence of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers, 40 miles (64 km) east of Stockton, and approximately 125 miles (200 km) east of San Francisco. The project provides for: flood control on the lower Stanislaus River and San Joaquin River Delta; irrigation and municipal water supplies; peak use period hydroelectric production; recreation; and fish and wildlife enhancement. In addition, the project provides year-round quality recreation opportunities for more than 800,000 visitors per year. Situated on Highway 49, midway between the historic gold rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp, California, it is in the heart of the Southern Mother Lode. Visitors to New Melones Lake may want to first stop in at the Visitor Center and Museum, located 1/4 mile south of the Stevenot Stanislaus River Bridge on Highway 49. The surrounding communities and geographical area teem with a variety of popular tourist sites. In this website you can learn about:
Additional information can be obtained by going to the Related Links page, or you can contact one of our New Melones Lake staff members with questions in the Contact Us section |
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Reclamation Officials' Telephone Numbers
Last update: September 15, 2008
August 14, 2008