New Melones Lake Water Level
California · Stanislaus River
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Water level history
About New Melones Lake
New Melones Lake is a reservoir on the Stanislaus River in California, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Its full summer pool sits at 1088 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from California's Department of Water Resources (CDEC) and update daily.
Understanding New Melones Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation targets when New Melones Lake is completely filled — 1088 feet above sea level. Reservoirs like New Melones Lake fill from winter storms and spring snowmelt toward 1088 ft, then get drawn down through the dry season to supply cities and farms — so sitting below full pool by late summer is expected, not a warning sign.
Expect New Melones Lake to climb through winter and spring, peak around early summer, and fall through the dry summer and autumn as water is released downstream. A wet, snowy winter can raise it dramatically; a drought year can leave it low well into the next season.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for New Melones Lake, 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.
New Melones Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of New Melones Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows New Melones Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from California's Department of Water Resources (CDEC).
What is full pool for New Melones Lake?
New Melones Lake's full summer pool is 1088 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages New Melones Lake?
New Melones Lake is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Stanislaus River.
Where is New Melones Lake located?
New Melones Lake is in California, on the Stanislaus River.
Why is New Melones Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 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 New Melones Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for New Melones Lake.
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