Water levels expected to rise in Merced River

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- As the temperatures statesman to emergence successful Central California, determination is interest of beardown currents done the Merced River.

"We've had plentifulness of snowfall and rainfall and we were capable to seizure rather a spot of that successful the reservoir," said Mike Jensen from the Merced Irrigation District (MID).

The MID supplies h2o and powerfulness to thousands of radical portion maintaining the New Exchequer and McSwain dams.

On Wednesday, the MID started releasing much h2o done those dams.

The Merced River travel adjacent Snelling volition importantly summation until it reaches its extremity of 2,600 cubic feet per second.

Which means, the h2o tin go dangerous.

"It's beardown flows with beardown currents. You don't ever spot those currents connected the apical of the water, it could beryllium underneath it, truthful it whitethorn not look similar it's precise strong, but erstwhile you're successful the water, it tin surely instrumentality you downstream," said Jensen.

Authorities said waterways similar this 1 shown successful video are a amended alternate arsenic the upwind gets warmer.

"If you wanna spell swimming, delight spell to Lake Yosemite. Enjoy yourself determination and designated swimming areas," said Sergeant Chris Chilton with the Merced County Sheriff's Office.

He said there've been respective incidents wherever he's had to assistance rescuing idiosyncratic from the fast-moving waters.

"The stream changes h2o levels constantly. And that shifts waterflow, it covers up obstructions. There are bushes and trees that you wouldn't beryllium capable to see," said Chilton.

MID volition lone merchandise other h2o into the stream this month.

Jensen says they volition proceed to show the h2o travel and set if needed.