Merced River at Happy Isles, CA
River level and flood forecast · Mariposa County
The river is 6.9 ft below flood stage (7.5 ft).
Forecast to rise to 0.9 ft Tue 2 AM, below the 7.5 ft flood stage.
Flow: 4 cubic feet per second (USGS).
River camera
Watch the time-lapse
Camera by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most take a picture every hour, some every few minutes; many stop at night.
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 7:45 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Merced River at Happy Isles to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13.27 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 7.5 ft |
| Record crest (January 2, 1997) | 13.27 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 13.27 ftFlood of Record: 1/2/97. $178 million in damage to Yosemite Valley.
- 10 ftNorthside Drive at Wosky Pond, Southside Drive at Chapel Meadow, El Capitan crossover, and Sentinel crossover are impassable to vehicles.
- 8.2 ftSwinging Bridge overtops. Water on road at Northside Drive, Southsie Drive, El Capitan crossover, and Sentinel crossover.
- 7.5 ftFlood Stage. Housekeeping camp and Yosemite Valley backpacker campground begin to flood.
- 7 ftNorth Pines and Lower Pines campgrounds begin flooding.
Highest crests on record
- 13.27 ft — January 2, 1997
- 12.73 ft — December 23, 1955
- 11.55 ft — November 18, 1950
- 8.42 ft — May 21, 2023
Recent crests: 8.42 ft (May 21, 2023) · 13.27 ft (January 2, 1997) · 12.73 ft (December 23, 1955) · 11.55 ft (November 18, 1950)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamMerced River at Pohono Bridge, CA
- Robinson Creek (CA) at Twin Lakes, CA
- Deadman Creek (CA) at Big Springs, CA
- Green Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
- Virginia Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
- Buckeye Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
- Hot Creek at Flume Near Mammoth Lakes, CA
- West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage), CA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (HPIC1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.