Merced River reaching flood stage again, and sheriff orders everyone to stay out of water

Minor flooding is forecast for the Merced River at Stevinson beginning Saturday morning, the National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley office in Hanford said Friday.

With snowmelt continuing to fill the river with fast-moving, ice-cold water, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke announced Thursday night that waterways including the river are off-limits to recreation.

“It’s dangerous...so stay out of it,” Warnke said in an Instagram post.

“Get it? Got it? Good,” Warnke concluded.

The sheriff acknowledged that it’s becoming ever enticing to cool off and invited residents to take advantage of pools and the county’s full lakes — much safer options than rivers, canals and creeks.

Anyone caught violating the order is subject to a citation.

Warnke added that fishing from the bank is OK.

The Weather Service said the Merced River at Stevinson measured 70.5 feet Friday morning, “up to the maintenance building in Hagaman Park.”

Flood stage is 71.0 feet. The Weather Service forecast the river will reach 71.1 feet Saturday and said “additional rises are possible.”

On March 21, the river crested at 71.4 feet after the most recent big storm.