Section of Merced River closed to fishing for the rest of the year

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) have closed a section of the Merced River to fishing due to high water temperatures.

The closure affects the Merced River from Crocker-Huffman Dam downstream to the Snelling Road Bridge, a distance of approximately 5.5 miles, and begins immediately. The river will re-open to anglers on January 1, 2016.

In June 2015, the California Fish and Game Commission granted CDFW the authority to close fisheries when certain criteria are met, such as low water levels and high water temperatures.

The lower Merced River is typically closed to fishing from November 1st through December 31st every year. This year's move to close the river ahead of schedule was deemed necessary, according to the CDFW, in order to protect drought-stressed salmonid populations during the fall spawning.