Goals

Though we will take many important steps along the way, our long-term goals are to free the Stanislaus from New Melones Dam and restore its splendor. This will entail a physical reduction of the dam in order to safeguard the restoration and stewardship of the river between Highway 49 and Camp 9. This will drop the reservoir back to the level of the old Melones Dam, which was drowned behind New Melones.

Why now?

Over forty years have passed since the Stanislaus was first drowned behind the New Melones Dam. What has changed that enables us to restore it now? Plenty:

•    New Melones was the last major dam built in the U.S. and marked the end of the big-dam-building era. Even so, it took another decade for the dam’s operators to finally admit that it was a mistake. Read the report here. Find an even more in-depth report on the dam’s failure here - Deliver the River

•    Momentum began to shift in the 1990s toward removing dams.
•    By 2015, the dam removal rate in the U.S. reached 50-60 per year.
•    Currently, major dam removal projects and proposals are making headlines (read more here) and climate change has revealed the uselessness of many dams, especially in the western U.S., including New Melones.

Plus, we’ve never given up on our beloved river.

Protecting Farmers

Reducing New Melones is the only significant dam infrastructure change we see as necessary to restoring the health of the river while protecting farmers and their land in the lower watershed. We will partner with farmers to plan and implement the necessary flood plain restoration efforts.

Groundwater Restoration

Lowering the amount of water stored behind New Melones will cut back losses to evaporation and allow for the refilling of groundwater basins below the dam for the benefit of farms, communities, and nature.

Current Efforts

How to help:

•    Sign up for our newsletter and check back for updates.
•    Volunteer and/or track down documentation 
•    And of course, we would appreciate your donation. Find the Donate button below.