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- Reclamation Announces Seasonal Changes to Park Hours and Annual Closures at New Melones Lake
News Release Archive
Reclamation Announces Seasonal Changes to Park Hours and Annual Closures at New Melones Lake
Media Contact:
Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, 09/08/2014 15:03
For Release: September 08, 2014
SONORA, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled annual recreation area closures at New Melones Lake from Oct. 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015. These annual closures allow Reclamation to perform necessary maintenance tasks and also allow for natural resource recovery.
- Closures in the Tuttletown Recreation Area: Chamise and Manzanita Campgrounds and Oak Knoll Group Camp. The Tuttletown Boat Launch remains closed due to the low water level. All other locations in Tuttletown remain open year-round.
- Closures in the Glory Hole Recreation Area: Big Oak Campground, Ironhorse Campground sites 8-22 and sites 70-79, and Osprey Point Day Use Area. The Angels Creek Boat Launch and parking lot remain closed due to the low water level. All other locations in Glory Hole remain open year-round.
- Beginning Sept. 15, gates for both recreation areas will be closed one hour earlier, at 10 p.m.
- Beginning Oct. 15, 2014, through March 31, 2015, gates for both recreation areas will be closed at 9 p.m.
- Beginning Sept. 15, the New Melones Lake Visitor Center and Museum will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as staffing allows, and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Visitors should be aware that accessing the shoreline by foot can be difficult in areas due to the low water level. The water level at the lake fluctuates frequently, and Reclamation encourages all boaters to use caution while navigating the lake. Some hazards may still emerge as the lake’s surface elevation gradually drops due to continued drought conditions.
Boaters are required to maintain speeds of no more than 5 miles per hour within 200 feet of any island or shoreline. Wearing life jackets while on the water will help visitors have a safe and enjoyable day on the
lake. Children age 11 and younger must wear a properly fitting life jacket while on a vessel of 26 feet or less.
The New Melones Administration Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located at 6850 Studhorse Flat Road, Sonora, CA 95370. For additional information on activities, directions, pet restrictions, or other questions, please call the New Melones Visitor Center & Museum at 209-536-9543, or the Administration Office at 209-536-9094, ext. 0 (TTY 800-877-8339), or visit the New Melones Lake website at 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.
