New Melones Lake water level
▼ 3.3 points from 59.7% a year ago
Source: data.usbr.gov/rise/api/catalog-item/10842, accessed October 1, 2026. Updated every 6 hours.
New Melones Lake is at 56.4% of full pool (1006.87 ft) as of September 28, 2026. New Melones Lake is near Sonora, California. It has restrooms, showers, drinking water, picnic area, dump station, boat launch, marina, and equestrian facilities, managed by Bureau of Reclamation - Central California Area Office. Check current swimming advisories at New Melones Lake recreation notices (Recreation.gov) before you go.
New Melones Lake level history
This site counts a reservoir as full on a day its storage is at or above 95% of the dam's normal storage (National Inventory of Dams). Many reservoirs rarely reach 100%, even in wet years, because operators release water for irrigation, power or flood control before they fill, so this site treats 95% as full. Highs and lows are daily readings in the published data, not official records. Source: Bureau of Reclamation daily data.
Storage, % of full pool, since 1943
New Melones Lake is falling: 56.4% full, down 0.2 percentage points since September 27, 2026.
On this same date last year (September 28, 2025), New Melones Lake was 59.7% full, 3.3 percentage points higher than today's 56.4%.
Weekly averages of the source's daily readings; older years may be monthly or sparser where that is all the source published. Download the charted data (JSON).
New Melones Lake map
New Melones Lake is at 37.9491, -120.5240. Open in OpenStreetMap.
The dam
- Hydropower
- Irrigation
- Recreation
- Water supply
Sources: nid.sec.usace.army.mil, accessed September 29, 2026 , recreation.gov/camping/gateways/25, accessed September 29, 2026
Data source: Recreation.gov
Visiting New Melones Lake
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic area
- Dump station
- Boat launch
- Marina
- ADA accessible
- Equestrian facilities
Year-round camping at Glory Hole Recreation Area (near Angels Camp) and Tuttletown Recreation Area (near Sonora). Reservations via Recreation.gov only (not on-site); standard/walk-in sites bookable same day up to six months ahead. Camping fees include boat launch and day-use. 14-day camping limit within a 30-day period. Interagency Senior/Access Pass: 50% off standard camping fees (not group camps).
Dogs allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Good to know:
- Glory Hole has a swim beach, marina/store with fuel and rentals, fish cleaning station, and boat launches; Tuttletown has boat launch, dump station, and fish cleaning station.
- About 100 miles of shoreline and roughly 12,500 acres of water surface at capacity (Recreation.gov gateway).
- Confirm current campground and launch status before travel; Recreation.gov and Reclamation notices may close areas seasonally.
Swimming
Designated swim area: Swim beach at Glory Hole Recreation Area.
Water-quality and swimming advisories change without notice. Always check New Melones Lake recreation notices (Recreation.gov) before you go.
Sources: recreation.gov/camping/gateways/25, accessed September 28, 2026
On the water
No campgrounds, boat ramps, or swim spots linked to New Melones Lake yet.
Common questions
- New Melones Lake is at 56.4% of full pool (1006.87 ft) as of September 28, 2026.
- New Melones Lake has not been full in the data: its storage never reached 95% of normal storage. This site counts a reservoir as full on a day its storage is at or above 95% of the dam's normal storage (National Inventory of Dams). Many reservoirs rarely reach 100%, even in wet years, because operators release water for irrigation, power or flood control before they fill, so this site treats 95% as full. Based on Bureau of Reclamation daily data since October 1, 1943.
- In Bureau of Reclamation daily data since October 1, 1943, New Melones Lake's highest storage was 88.2% of normal storage on July 8, 1983. Its lowest since October 1, 1943 was 0% of normal storage on October 1, 1943. These are the highest and lowest daily readings in the published data, not official records.
- New Melones Lake is near Sonora, California (37.9491, -120.5240).
- Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam at New Melones Lake.
- New Melones Lake's dam is used for Hydropower, Irrigation, Recreation, Water supply.
- Visitor center/museum on Highway 49 south of the Stanislaus River bridge is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily (per Recreation.gov gateway description). Fees: Standard campsite $22/night, Walk-in campsite $18/night, Camper overflow vehicle / day-use component $8/day, RV dump station (registered campers) $8, RV dump station (non-campers) $16, Group camp Oak Knoll (20-50 people) $125/night, Group camp Fiddleneck (30-60 people) $150/night.
- New Melones Visitor Center, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
- New Melones Lake has designated swimming at: Swim beach at Glory Hole Recreation Area. Check current advisories at New Melones Lake recreation notices (Recreation.gov) before you go.