Overview
Lake McClure is an approximately 7,150-acre reservoir on the Merced River in Mariposa County, formed by New Exchequer Dam and owned and operated by the Merced Irrigation District. The dam was completed in the late 1960s for irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and recreation, storing more than a million acre-feet of Merced River water from the Yosemite region.
At a gross pool of 867 feet the lake has roughly 80 to 82 miles of shoreline and stretches many miles into steep Sierra foothill canyons. Long river arms, rocky points, and limited shoreline development give McClure a spacious, less-crowded feel than some neighboring Mother Lode lakes.
MID recreation areas support camping, boating, and fishing for bass, trout, and other species managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Public ramps, marinas, and campgrounds draw visitors from Merced, Modesto, and travelers bound for Yosemite.
Water levels are managed by MID around a full pool of 867 feet, with flood-control space reserved seasonally and spillway design-flood elevations near 878 feet. Irrigation demand and Sierra snowmelt drive large seasonal swings, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and campground shoreline access. Don Pedro and New Melones are nearby foothill reservoirs on adjacent rivers.
Current Conditions
Lake McClure is currently 62.97 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 4.06 ft
- 30-day changeDown 21.83 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake McClure is a 7,147-acre reservoir on the Merced River managed by Merced Irrigation District.