News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Hours of Operation for Recreation Facilities at New Melones Lake

Media Contact: Margaret Gidding, 916-978-5112, mgidding@usbr.gov

For Release: March 27, 2014

SONORA, Calif. The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office announces that effective Tuesday, April 1, most recreation facilities at New Melones Lake will be open for the public’s enjoyment.

Individual and group campsites and group picnic reservations may be made a minimum of two days in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Several individual campsites are also available on a first-come first-served basis.

The gates at the Glory Hole and Tuttletown Recreation Areas’ entrance stations currently open at 4 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Beginning April 1, the gates will remain open until 10 p.m., and beginning Sunday, May 18, the gates will remain open until 11 p.m.

The New Melones Lake Visitor Center and Museum is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, the Visitor Center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The restroom facilities at the Angels Creek and Buck Brush Day Use Areas and the boat launch ramp and fish cleaning station at Angels Creek will remain closed due to low lake levels. Portable restrooms for use by shore fishermen and trail users will be available effective April 1 in the Angels Creek Parking Lot and Buck Brush Day Use Area.

Floating restroom service will be provided on the lake to begin the spring recreation season; however, should lake water levels drop below elevation 930 feet, floating restroom service will be discontinued. Currently, lake levels are at elevation 950 feet.

The RV dump station facilities in the Glory Hole Recreation Area will remain closed until water system repairs have been completed. An RV dump pay station is currently available at Tuttletown Recreation Area for use by registered campers.

New Melones Lake is pleased to announce that Reclamation’s first electric vehicle charging stations will be available to the public on April 1 at the Glory Hole Recreation Area’s Ironhorse Campground and in the Tuttletown Recreation Area’s Lupine Day Use Area. The electric vehicle charging stations will be free to those who have already paid standard amenity fees and may be accessed on a first-come first-served basis.

For additional information, please contact the New Melones Lake Recreation Resources Branch Office at
209-536-9094, ext. 0 (TTY 1-800-877-8339), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/index.html.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.