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Merced River swells in Yosemite Valley: Campers relocated, McClure expands by 23,000 acre-feet

Posted by: Maven on May 6, 2009 at 7:25 am

From the Modesto Bee:

Warm rain from a tropical storm and a heavy snowmelt Friday and Saturday swelled the Merced River almost to flood stage in Yosemite Valley.

The whirling water forced the evacuation of 71 campsites near the river, according to the National Park Serv-ice. No injuries were reported.

The surging river also increased the level of Lake McClure by more than 23,000 acre-feet in three days, which may lessen the drought’s impact on farmers, according to the Merced Irrigation District. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons.

Yosemite Valley received 1.47 inches of rain Friday and 1.11 inches Saturday, said park spokeswoman Kari Cobb. The river rose to 9 feet Friday night and Saturday morning, Cobb said.

The National Weather Serv-ice had issued a flood warning for the Yosemite Valley for Friday and Saturday. The agency had predicted the river would rise to 12 feet. Flooding didn’t occur, but the park prepared itself for the worst. “We definitely were preparing for it by evacuating the campgrounds, and we did close off the pedestrian bridges and footpaths,” Cobb said.

Read more from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.

May 6, 2009 · Filed Under San Joaquin Valley

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