View the new River Reach newsletter.
With the sunshine and warmer weather, weeds have appeared in the watershed. Here are photos and information to help you spare a native thistle species and identify and treat sparse populations of two harmful invasive weed species, Italian Thistle and Yellow Starthistle, that may be taking hold on your property. For more information on invasive weeds and managing larger infestations, visit the California Invasive Plant Council website at www.cal-ipc.org.
ACTION ALERT! Congressman Jeff Denham has introduced for the Merced Irrigation District a new bill, HR 869, that has the potential of significant negative impacts on the Upper Merced River Watershed. Please read more.
View the water quality data collected through November 2011.
NEW GRANT WILL FUND INVASIVE WEED WORK
On March 3, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded a $192,000 grant to the Upper Merced River Watershed Council to continue and expand invasive weed management in the river canyon over the next three years. With this funding the Council will build on its successful years of work in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management between Briceburg and the North Fork, further reducing yellow starthistle and Italian thistle. In addition, the Council will work with the National Park Service and US Forest Service on infestations along Incline Road near El Portal, and will also target some additional areas with the Bureau of Land Management on and near the North Fork of the Merced. The grant will fund crews to handpull and mow in targeted areas at optimum times during the growing season.
January 2011
GROUNDBREAKING STUDY OF MARIPOSA COUNTY WATERSHEDS: Community members recently worked with Sierra Institute for Community and Environment on a project that created socioeconimic indicators for watersheds in California. View a summary of the process on page 2 of the Fall 2010 River Reach Newsletter. View the project overview and final report of the study of Mariposa County watersheds just completed by the Sierra Institute.
July 2010
MERCED RIVER'S "PATTY'S HOLE"
IN EL PORTAL INCLUDED IN
SAFE-TO-SWIM STUDY, LABOR DAY, 2008
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
conducted a region-wide Recreation Beneficial Use study
before, during and after Labor Day in 2008. Patty's Hole
was included in the study. See the results.
INVASIVE WEED WORK 
FUNDED
BY NEW TWO-YEAR GRANT
It is estimated that yellow starthistle has invaded
20% of the state of California. A watershed free
of this and other invasive weeds provides a natural
habitat for native plants and animals, and enjoyment
for residents as well as the valued guests who visit our region. Read more.
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER?
Ask a Mariposa County fifth grade student about
watersheds. Chances are you will learn something!
Fifth grade classes in the Mariposa County Unified
School District are learning how to care for their
watershed. Read more.
YOU SEARCH, GOODSEARCH DONATES
You can now support your watershed just by choosing GoodSearch as your internet search engine. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and choose the Upper Merced River Watershed Council as your charity. Your watershed will benefit with every search. From the GoodSearch page you can also link to GoodShop to find coupons and discounts at more than 1,300 stores. A percentage of every purchase made through GoodShop will also go to the Upper Merced River Watershed Council. How easy is that?
As of mid-July, over $9.00 has been raised through internet searches, at no cost to anyone! Small potatoes, but 100 people performing just two searches per day on Goodsearch.com will earn $730 in a year. Not bad. Purchases through Goodshop.com have earned donations also; over $25.00 so far. Thanks for supporting your watershed!
December 2009