New Melones Reservoir
As of August 9, 2026, New Melones Reservoir is holding 1,983,900 acre-ft of water — 128% of normal storage for this date. Storage data refreshed throughout the day.
New Melones Reservoir
New Melones Reservoir is located in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, California. It was created in 1979 by the construction of the New Melones Dam on the Stanislaus River. The reservoir has a capacity of 2.4 million acre-feet and is an important source of water for hydroelectric power generation, agriculture, and recreation. The hydrology of the reservoir is influenced by the snowpack from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which provides water for the river and reservoir during the dry months. The surface flow providers for the reservoir include the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Calaveras rivers. The reservoir is used for irrigation of crops such as almonds, grapes, and citrus fruits, as well as for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. The reservoir also provides habitat for various fish, including the endangered Chinook salmon and the steelhead trout.
Daily levels at New Melones Reservoir
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 New Melones Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | · | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | · | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 180 cfs | → |
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 947 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Dion R Holm Ph | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Melones Reservoir.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About New Melones Reservoir
What is the water level at New Melones Reservoir right now?
As of August 9, 2026, New Melones Reservoir is holding 1,983,900 acre-ft, about 128% of normal for this date. Pool elevation and the year-over-year trend are shown above.
Is New Melones Reservoir high or low right now?
Compare the percent-of-normal figure on this page: above 100% means storage is higher than the historical average for the date (a wet year), below 100% means lower (a dry year or drought). The daily-levels chart shows the current trend.
Where does the data for New Melones Reservoir 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 below 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.
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