Merced River Conditions in 2022
The Merced River experienced very low flow and dry conditions during the summer and early fall of 2022. The State Water Board received letters from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other parties notifying the State Water Board of dry riverbed conditions, requesting an investigation into the reasons the river went dry, and requesting State Water Board actions to prevent dry river conditions in the future.
State Water Board staff developed fact sheets about water rights and reporting requirements to improve general understanding about individual claims and rights, diversions under claims and rights, reporting requirements, and overall stewardship. Water Rights 101 and Reporting Requirement Fact Sheets were sent to approximately 1,250 water right holders and landowners adjacent to the lower 52 miles of the Merced River.
State Water Board staff have been analyzing river flow data, reported diversion data, and other information to help understand the reasons for dry conditions. Materials produced from that analysis will be posted on this webpage when available.
Correspondence
Files without hyperlinks are available upon request.
- June 27, 2024 – San Francisco Baykeeper Support for NMFS and CDFW Requests for Action
- January 16, 2024 – Letter from the Executive Director to NMFS Regarding Dry Conditions on the Merced River in 2022
- January 8, 2024 – Friends of the River and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Support for NMFS and CDFW Requests for Action
- November 16, 2023 – The Nature Conservancy Support for NMFS and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Requests for Action
- March 1, 2023 – NMFS Recommendations for Dry Season Baseflows to Support Fisheries
- December 5, 2022 – Merced Irrigation District response to NMFS October 27, 2022, letter
- November 22, 2022 – CDFW Notification and Request for Action Regarding Dry River Conditions
- October 27, 2022 – NMFS Notification and Request for Action Regarding Dry River Conditions
Additional Resources
- Water Rights Fact Sheets
- April 2024 – Water Rights 101
- April 2024 – Water Use Reporting Requirements
- October 30, 2024 − November Merced Workshop
- Lower Merced River Riparian and Pre-1914 Claims
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Contact Us
Lower San Joaquin River/Southern Delta: LSJR-SD-Comments@waterboards.ca.gov
