Merced Falls dam
Merced Falls
Merced Falls is a captivating hydroelectric facility located in Snelling, California, along the picturesque Merced River. Built in 1901, this concrete dam stands at a height of 43 feet and boasts a structural height of 34 feet. With a storage capacity of 678 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 603 acre-feet, Merced Falls plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Managed by a public utility agency and regulated by the Department of Water Resources' Safety of Dams division, Merced Falls is equipped with a controlled spillway and three Tainter (radial) outlet gates. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, with a very high risk assessment score of 1. Despite limited data on its current condition, regular inspections by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ensure the dam's operational safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Merced Falls serves as a historic and essential piece of California's hydroelectric infrastructure. Its location in the beautiful Merced County, coupled with its impressive engineering features and environmental impact, make it a site worth exploring for those interested in the intersection of water management, renewable energy, and sustainable resource utilization.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
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 Merced Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 813 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 186 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 572 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Dion R Holm Ph | 233 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merced Falls .
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
- Fleming Meadow - Don Pedro Rec Area
- Horseshoe Bend 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
- Clavey River At Confluence Of Bell And Lily Creeks To 3n01
- Headwaters Near The Tuolumne And Mariposa County Lines To Western Boundary Of Yosemite National Park
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
More reservoirs
Track Merced Falls in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Merced Falls
Where does the data for Merced Falls come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High 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 dam, 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 Merced Falls .