Lake Mc Swain reservoir
Lake Mc Swain
Lake McSwain is a reservoir located in Mariposa County, California. The lake was constructed in 1967 as part of the Merced River Flood Control Project. Water is supplied from the nearby Merced River, snowpack from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and rainfall. The lake is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation but also provides irrigation for nearby agricultural lands. Recreational activities include fishing, boating, and camping. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and catfish. The lake and surrounding area are managed by the Merced Irrigation District. Despite being a man-made lake, it provides a vital habitat for a range of species, including bald eagles and black bears.
Daily levels at Lake Mc Swain
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Mc Swain -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 182 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 606 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 1,830 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Dion R Holm Ph | 1,310 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Mc Swain.
Boat launches
- Merals Pool Put-In
- Forest Route 1n10 Tuolumne County
- County Road 29 Madera County
- Road 29 Madera County
Campgrounds
- Lake Mcswain Rec Area
- Mcclure Point Rec Area
- Barrett Cove Rec Area
- Bagby Rec Area
- Horseshoe Bend Rec Area
- Fleming Meadow - Don Pedro Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne
- Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River
- Clavey River From 3n01 To Cottonwood Road
- Headwaters Near The Tuolumne And Mariposa County Lines To Western Boundary Of Yosemite National Park
- Clavey River At Confluence Of Bell And Lily Creeks To 3n01
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
More reservoirs
Track Lake Mc Swain in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Lake Mc Swain
Where does the data for Lake Mc Swain come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Mc Swain.