Lake McClure Water Level
California · Merced River
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Water level history
About Lake McClure
Lake McClure is a reservoir on the Merced River in California, operated by Merced Irrigation District. Its full summer pool sits at 867 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Lake McClure's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation Merced Irrigation District targets when Lake McClure is completely filled — 867 feet above sea level. That is the elevation Lake McClure reaches at the top of a good runoff year, not a level it is held at. Reservoirs like this one fill from winter storms and snowmelt and are then drawn down deliberately through the dry season, so the gap between today's reading and 867 ft is normally the season rather than a shortage. Judge it against the same week last year, not against full.
Lake McClure climbs through winter and spring as storms and snowmelt come off the mountains, peaks around late spring, and falls steadily through summer and autumn as water goes downstream and flood space is reopened for the next winter. A wet winter can raise it dramatically; the low point almost always lands in autumn regardless.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lake McClure, so they show how today compares over that record rather than an all-time extreme. The 12-month and 5-year chart views make the trend and the lake's usual seasonal shape easy to see.
Lake McClure — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Lake McClure?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Lake McClure's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Lake McClure?
Lake McClure's full summer pool is 867 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Lake McClure?
Lake McClure is operated by Merced Irrigation District on the Merced River.
Where is Lake McClure located?
Lake McClure is in California, on the Merced River.
Why is Lake McClure low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when Merced Irrigation District lowers the pool for flood storage, power, or water supply — and recover after rain and snowmelt. The history chart above shows the recent trend.
What are the record high and low levels for Lake McClure?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake McClure.
Other lakes near Lake McClure
- Millerton LakeCA
- Los Banos ReservoirCA
- New Bullards Bar ReservoirCA
- Lake KaweahCA
- New Hogan LakeCA
- Lake IsabellaCA
See current levels for all 29 California lakes and reservoirs →
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