SONORA, Calif.
- The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office announces fall and winter events at New Melones Lake. All activities are free of charge and
most are suitable for all ages. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and clothing
appropriate for the weather. In the event of inclement weather, please contact Park Ranger Mike McGraw at 209-536-9094 ext. 233 for the status of events.
Things That Go Bump In The Night!
Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, 6 p.m.
New Melones Lake Visitor Center
Halloween is almost here, and it’s a great time to discover “things that go bump in the night." Join Park Ranger Mike for a short journey on the Norwegian
Gulch Trail to discover the nocturnal world of an oak woodland. Children of all ages are welcome. We will meet at the New Melones Lake Visitor Center at 6
p.m. Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather as things might be a bit “chilling." A flashlight is required.
The New Melones Dam
Sunday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
New Melones Lake Dam Overlook
Have you ever wanted to take a good look at the dam that impounds the waters of the Stanislaus River? Here’s your opportunity! For nearly two decades, the
gate to the dam overlook has been closed. This fall, the gate will be open for two weekend days. A Park Ranger will be available on site to answer
questions about the dam and the history of New Melones Lake. The dam overlook is located off of Old Melones Dam Road/Peoria Flat Road, Jamestown, which can
be reached by taking O’Byrnes Ferry Road from Hwy 108. Please contact Ranger Mike at 209-536-9094 ext. 233 if additional directions are needed.
Coyote Creek Kayaking Excursion
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, 10 a.m.
New Melones Lake Visitor Center
Join Park Ranger Hilary on an exciting kayaking excursion to Coyote Creek. Along the way, discover extraordinary historic features of the town of Melones.
We will launch from the Mark Twain Day Use Area and traverse across the lake to Coyote Creek. Expect to be out on the water for four hours. This outing is
open to experienced swimmers with their own kayak or other non-motorized boat. Participants need to bring their own boat, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life
jacket (properly fitting and serviceable), paddles, sunscreen, hat, water, and lunch. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Please contact
Ranger Hilary at 209-536-9094 ext. 219 to register for this event. We will meet at the New Melones Lake Visitor Center at 10 a.m.
Giving Thanks to Nature
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, 10 a.m.
Tuttletown Recreation Area
Work off some of those extra Thanksgiving calories with a hike on the Heron Point Trail, located in the Tuttletown Recreation Area. Enjoy a leisurely
three-mile hike on this moderate trail and discover what nature has to offer on an autumn day. We will meet at the Tuttletown Entrance Station at 10 a.m.
and then caravan down to the Heron Point trailhead. Participants will be issued a parking pass for the duration of the event.
The Stars Over New Melones Lake
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, 6 p.m.
New Melones Lake Visitor Center
Enjoy the night sky with a Park Ranger and learn to identify some constellations and stars! Telescopes will be on hand. Please dress warmly and bring a
flashlight. We will meet at the Visitor Center at 6 p.m. If there are cloudy skies or if the forecast is for inclement weather, please call Ranger Mike at
209-536-9094 ext. 233 for the status of the program.
New Year’s Day Hike
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, 10 a.m.
Glory Hole Recreation Area
Welcome in the New Year with a hike on the Angels Creek Trail located in the Glory Hole Recreation Area. A new year begins and the old year ends, but the
rewards found in nature never end! With a Park Ranger, discover the animals and plants that abound during the winter at New Melones. We will meet at the
Glory Hole Entrance Station at 10 a.m. and then caravan down to the Angel Creek trailhead. Participants will be issued a parking pass for the duration of
the event.
New Melones Lake Water Education Program
Available Upon Request
A water education program has been developed at New Melones. This new interdisciplinary learning experience is designed for students in grades 4 and 5. The
program integrates the natural resources of New Melones Lake with California curriculum standards. School classes can join a Park Ranger to learn about the
importance of water in their lives. In addition to the onsite learning experience, a teacher packet will be available with logistical information and
pre-and post-onsite visit activities. Park Rangers are also available to conduct classroom visits. For more details on this free program, please contact
Ranger Mike McGraw at 209-536-9094 ext. 233 or mmcgraw@usbr.gov.
Mussel Outreach Programs
Available Upon Request
They are only about the size of a thumbnail yet can overwhelm aquatic environments by their sheer numbers. Invasive Quagga and Zebra mussels pose one of
the greatest threats to New Melones Lake, disrupting ecosystems, impeding dam operations, and impacting water recreation, especially boating and fishing.
Throughout the United States, lakes and rivers have forever been altered by these tiny creatures. Although no invasive mussels are currently present in New
Melones Lake, keeping the lake mussel-free is a challenge we all share as a community. Park Rangers will be attending events throughout the year to provide
outreach and education to the public free of charge. If you would like a Park Ranger to visit a school, speak to students, or attend a civic function or
other occasion to provide outreach, please contact Natural Resource Biologist Sam Sosa at 209-536-9094 ext. 221 or ssosa@usbr.gov.
If you would like to participate in a program and need accommodation, please contact Ranger Mike McGraw at 209-536-9094 ext. 233 or email mmcgraw@usbr.gov a minimum of 14 days in advance.
To help engage and create our next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates, the White House, in partnership with federal land management
agencies, launched the Every Kid in a Park initiative. The immediate goal is to provide an opportunity for every fourth-grade student across the
country to experience their federal public lands and waters in person throughout the 2016-2017 school year. For more information, please visit https://www.everykidinapark.gov/.
The New Melones Visitor Center and Museum is managed by Reclamation’s Central California Area Office and is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as staffing allows. For additional information on activities, directions, pet restrictions, or other questions, please call 209-536-9543 (TTY 800-877-8339) or visit the New Melones Lake website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/index.html.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
