MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Merced River and the San Joaquin River will be closed for recreational use throughout Merced County, announced the Merced County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

Just after 4:15 p.m. Sunday, The Merced County Sheriff's Office Water Rescue and Recovery Team responded to the Merced River, about a mile downstream of Hagaman Park.

In the middle of Yosemite Village in the deep valley of California's upper Merced River is a soft-drink machine, and on its front is a large posterized photo of a golfer about to tee up ...