Lake McClure
Sierra Sun Times file photo

March 3, 2017 - Lake McClure has dropped to about 16 feet below its maximum operating level in recent days. That's down from Feb. 22 when the reservoir was 10 feet from its maximum operating level, the highest lake level so far this winter.

Following five years of drought, the Merced River watershed and other parts of California are facing the wettest year on record. As of March 1, more than 1.5 million acre feet of water remain concentrated in the snowpack above Lake McClure.

The reservoir has a 1-million-acre-foot capacity. It is currently about 90 percent of its capacity. Water continues being released from the reservoir's primary outlet at the base of New Exchequer Dam to provide space for the pending high inflows of snowmelt and future precipitation.

Water is currently flowing into the reservoir from the Merced River at a rate of about 3,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). The reservoir has seen inflows as high as 100,000 CFS earlier in the winter. Water continues to be released from Lake McClure at a rate of 7,600 CFS – enough to fill a football field to a depth of 9 1/2 feet of water every minute.

MID remains in contact – and is coordinating – with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Merced County Office of Emergency Services.

High outflows of water downstream of the reservoir are expected for several months.
Source: MID