• Reclamation Announces Fee Changes at New Melones Lake; Annual Day Use and Boat Launch Passes Now Available  9/30/08
• Boaters Key to Stopping Spread of Invasive Mussels   5/20/08
• REA Fee Program

• Visitors Center
• Photo Gallery

• Wildlife
• Reservoir levels

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:

• American Indians, gold miners, ranchers:  The human history of New Melones Lake extends back thousands of years in the past. Read about it in the History section.
• In this website you can learn about the many ways the public can assist the Bureau of Reclamation in providing an enjoyable visit for the public. Learn about these opportunities in the Volunteering section.
• Hiking, biking, and water skiing are just some of the popular activities at New Melones Lake. For more information on the recreation opportunities at New Melones Lake, please visit the Planning Your Visit page.
• In the Camping section, you can learn about fees, registration and reservation procedures.
• Year-round interpretive and educational programs complement a visitor's experience. For information on programs, visit the Visitor's Center page.
• For copies of brochures, news releases, and other materials, see the News and Information section.
• The Resource Management Plan for New Melones Lake will undergo revision during 2007 and 2008. Information about this planning effort can be found in the Resource Management Plan section.
• Print maps of the recreation areas on the Maps section.
• Learn about some of the animals that live at New Melones Lake in the Wildlife section.
• In our Photo Gallery, you can view pictures of the campgrounds, boat ramps, and see some of the scenery of New Melones Lake.

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