Sonora, CA…The Bureau of Reclamation is alerting the public to take extra safety precautions this Memorial Day weekend near the Stanislaus River below Goodwin Dam due to high flows. River flows were ramped up May 10 and will be maintained through the end of May, creating hazardous conditions for river recreation. “All river recreation activities pose safety risks and we always encourage the public to be mindful of hazards. This weekend, in particular, we urge the public to have an abundance of caution near the river,” said Drew Lessard, manager of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office. “The high flows are hazardous for anyone trying to swim or boat in the river. The river is flowing at 3,000 cubic feet per second – that’s higher than normal for the end of May and too high for in-stream recreation.”

Recreationists in or along the Stanislaus River downstream from Goodwin Dam to the confluence of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers should take safety precautions with the increased flows.

Earlier this month, the Oakdale Irrigation District and South San Joaquin Irrigation District requested Reclamation increase releases from Goodwin Dam to 3,000 cubic feet per second. The supplemental flows are pursuant to an agreement for release of water by and among the Oakdale Irrigation District, the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and the California Department of Water Resources.

For more information on the Stanislaus River and daily reservoir operations, visit Reclamation’s Central Valley Operation Office website at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/.

# # #