New Melones Lake is a reservoir on the Stanislaus River in the central Sierra Nevada foothills, within Calaveras County and Tuolumne County, California.
New Melones Lake
New Melones Lake in October 2016
The Stanislaus River is a tributary of the San Joaquin River in north-central California in the United States. The main stem of the river is 96 miles (154 km) long, and measured to its furthest headwaters it is about 150 miles (240 km) long. Originating as three forks in the high Sierra Nevada, the river flows generally southwest through the agricultural San Joaquin Valley to join the San Joaquin south of Manteca, draining parts of five California counties. The Stanislaus is known for its swift rapids and scenic canyons in the upper reaches, and is heavily used for irrigation, hydroelectricity and domestic water supply.
Stanislaus River at the historic covered bridge in Knights Ferry
Stanislaus River at Camp Nine, near the confluence of the North and Middle Forks.
Kennedy Lake, near the headwaters of the Middle Fork, seen from Leavitt Peak (11,525 ft (3,513 m)) in the Emigrant Wilderness
The Stanislaus River canyon at the Dardanelles area, where Donnells Lake reservoir is today, was formed by glaciation during the Ice Ages.
