Unstable ground: Public warned to stay away from this part of the Merced River

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fishermen and visitors are being warned to enactment distant from the Merced River owed to perchance "swift and unpredictable currents" and unstable riverbanks.

According to the Merced Irrigation District, the accrued flows volition enactment the migration of Chinook salmon.

“These pulse flows are incredibly adjuvant to efforts to pull salmon upstream for their autumn runs from the Pacific Ocean," the District's Public and Government Relations Manager Mike Jensen said. "However, it besides creates conditions that elevate the request to usage caution astir the stream during this time.” 

The pulse flows volition beryllium released from New Exchequer Dam, creating abrupt fluctuations successful the h2o level downstream. Due to imaginable swift and unpredictable currents, the territory powerfully discourages swimming, fishing, and boating connected the stream beneath the New Wxchequer and McSwain dams during the merchandise period: Thursday, Oct. 16, done Oct. 21.

Visitors are besides warned of the anticipation of unstable ground. According to the district, precocious flows could pb to erosion, making the riverbank unstable.

“During these pulse flows, conditions connected the Merced River tin alteration rapidly,” said Captain Aaron Rosenberg with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue & Recovery Team. “Please bask the stream from a harmless distance, support children and pets distant from the water’s edge, deterioration a beingness overgarment adjacent the river, and remember—a harmless prime connected enactment prevents a unsafe rescue successful the water.”

According to the district, successful caller years, akin efforts person restored much than 2 miles of premier salmon rearing situation successful the Snelling area.