The Merced River (pronounced "mer-SED") is in California. Its headwaters are in the southern half of Yosemite National Park. The river flows into Yosemite Valley. Much of the water is stored behind the New Exchequer dam in Lake McClure, and diverted by the Merced Irrigation District at the Crocker-Huffman diversion dam. The remainder of the water flows southwest through foothills, and then across the San Joaquin Valley to join the San Joaquin River.

The Merced River is protected under the National Wild and Scenic Act. It is free flowing until Lake McClure and tends to flood in the winter and spring, and then reduce to a mere trickle in the late summer and fall. Highway 140 runs along part of the Merced River and is the main road into Yosemite National Park. Numerous recreational opportunities are available along the Merced River including fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, camping, hiking, swimming, and picnic areas.

Description

The Main Branch of the Merced River is 180 km (112 miles) long. There are several other branches of the Merced including the North Fork, South Fork and the Lyell Fork.

Irrigation and biota

Much of the length of the river has been "improved", to facilitate fish spawning.

A map of the Merced River watershed and Merced Irrigation District canals is available at: http://www.mercedid.org/_images/watershed_map.pdf . This map shows the irrigation district's main canals; it does not show the small canals and pipelines that serve most farms. The map also shows creeks that collect stormwater runoff.

The rare species Limestone salamander is endemic to the steep slopes of the Merced River Canyon.

Towns

Towns along the Merced River include:

• Wawona: (on the South Fork)
• Yosemite Village
• El Portal
• Merced Falls: (a largely abandoned community)
• Snelling: (a former gold mining town)
• Ballico
• Cressey
• Delhi
• Livingston
• Hilmar

History

If the Merced River took the most direct path to the San Joaquin River, it would follow Bear Creek through mostly-clay soils.

The Ice Ages severely affected the Merced River. A glacier carved out the Yosemite Valley, grinding mountains into sand. Half Dome and El Capitan are remnants of those mountains. Since the Ice Ages, the Merced River has flowed past Livingston, leaving sandy soil in its wake.

The river was named El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy) in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride.

Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiutes would camp yearly along the Merced River.

See also

• Yosemite Valley
• List of California rivers
• Livingston, California
• Vernal Fall
• Little Yosemite Valley
• Tenaya Creek
• Nevada Falls

References

• Compass Maps: Merced, Atwater, Merced County
• Merced Irrigation District watershed map, (PDF)
• Merced River Salmon Habitat Enhancement Project and Robinson Reach Phase: Initial Study / Environmental Assessment, March 5, 2001

Notes

External links

• Fanciful History of Ballico, California
• Merced Irrigation District