New Melones Lake

New Melones Lake is a reservoir located on the Stanislaus River in the central Sierra Nevada foothills, spanning across Calaveras County and Tuolumne County, California.

The reservoir, impounded by the New Melones Dam, boasts a capacity of 2,400,000 acre-feet (3.0 km3) and covers a surface area of 12,500 acres (5,100 ha). With its full capacity, the shoreline stretches over 100 miles (160 km).

Managed by the Central Valley Project of the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the New Melones reservoir serves as a vital unit for water collection and distribution. It supports irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and wildlife habitat conservation.

Recreational activities at New Melones Lake include fishing, camping, and boating, available in the Glory Hole Recreation Area and the Tuttletown Recreation Area.