Upper Merced River Watershed Council

06/05/2026

❤️❤️❤️

05/31/2026

Thanks to everyone who turned out today at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds!

05/31/2026

Big THANKS to all who came to see us at the EMBER STOMP. We signed up new volunteers, chatted with partner participants, talked about forest/watershed health, and even made some fire art!

05/31/2026

Attention anglers! 🎣

Yosemite National Park today announced year-round fishing in Yosemite Valley is now available to expand opportunity for anglers and align with California fishing rules. Seasonal closures that previously restricted winter fishing access have been removed.

“These updates expand recreational opportunities while maintaining our responsibility to protect Yosemite’s natural resources,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Ray McPadden. “Visitors can now enjoy fishing throughout the year, including in areas like Hetch Hetchy, with regulations that are easier to understand and more consistent with state guidelines.”

The Hetch Hetchy area of the park offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience a more remote setting with relatively easy access compared to other backcountry locations. Anglers are reminded to exercise caution while moving around the rocky waterline of the reservoir. Hetch Hetchy parking is limited, and visitors should plan ahead.

While fishing access is expanding, key protections for native fish species will remain in place. Area-specific regulations, including gear restrictions, catch-and-release requirements for certain species, and limits designed to reduce the spread of non-native fish, will continue where necessary to support long-term ecosystem health.

Anglers are responsible for following all applicable California fishing regulations, including licensing requirements, seasonal guidelines for gear and catch limits, and species-specific protections. Artificial lures with barbless hooks are required in Yosemite Valley, South Fork Merced River, and the Tuolumne River including all tributary streams. Rainbow trout are catch and release only for Yosemite Valley and south fork Merced River. These protections are in place all-year.

Visit our fishing page (www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/fishing.htm) for more information.

Yosemite National Park does not allow hunting, and that policy remains unchanged.

05/29/2026

Great water quality weekend with our Stewards of the Merced!!

Our newest volunteer Taylor✨ and our recurring steward Karl and his team heading down river🌊

Thank you for everyone who continues to make this work possible— to protect and enhance the outstanding values of The Merced River🍃. We could not do this without you!!

05/29/2026

Under a court order to establish “specific and measurable limits on use,” the NPS finalized the Merced and Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plans. These use limits were set at levels to “protect and enhance” the values for which the two rivers were designated Wild and Scenic, including ensuring a positive visitor experience. Scenes like we saw over Memorial Day weekend are anathema to the mandates of the NPS, an agency charged with leaving these special places “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” We urge the NPS to follow the directives of their own plans, which were completed after decades of careful study, public involvement, and even litigation.

05/27/2026

We're working with NOAA and 18 other tribes, agencies, and organizations to explore restoring salmonids to the Upper Merced River watershed. Following the success of the Upper Yuba, North Fork Feather, and others, bringing fish around the dams and reintroducing them to their ancestral coldwater habitat is critical for species survival. It's time to bring the salmon home!

Dams with no fish passage have trapped salmon on the floor of California's Central Valley. To avoid extinction as our planet warms, reintroductions to their historical high-elevation habitat may be the answer to save these endangered fish.

05/15/2026

Bravo, river stewards, for doing what it takes to save these amazing creatures!

05/14/2026

Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) will open for the season to all traffic on Friday, May 15, at 8 am.

Come prepared! There is no drinking water or food service available along the road corridor, and the only restrooms are vault and portable toilets. The campgrounds along the Tioga Road are not yet open. The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and Wilderness Center remain closed until further notice. Bring appropriate levels of food, water, and fuel for your trip. Gas is not available from Crane Flat to Lee Vining.

The trans-Sierra route across the park gives access to Tuolumne Meadows and the high country. There is still snow on north facing and high elevation trails, making navigation challenging. Hikers should have GPS, as well as map and compass (and know how to use them).

Please stay on trails, even if they are muddy or flooded, to avoid creating new trails. Do not walk on fragile meadows.

Bears, deer, marmots and birds have gotten accustomed to life without visitors, so please obey posted speed limits and keep your eyes peeled for critters on the road.

Shout out to all of our crews who make opening this road corridor possible each spring!