New Melones Reservoir dips to lowest level in 5 years, federal officials cite ‘unprecedented drought’
New Melones Reservoir, the Golden State’s fourth-largest capacity reservoir, was 70% empty Wednesday — its lowest level in five years — due to the drought described by officials at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as “unprecedented.” Federal authorities closed the lower boat ramp at Tuttletown Recreation Area in Tuolumne County earlier this month because of the lowering water levels. … On Wednesday, the reservoir was holding 722,889 acre-feet of water, three-tenths of its 2.4 million acre-foot capacity, and it was 70% empty, according to state Department of Water Resources data.