Folsom Lake reservoir
Folsom Lake
Folsom Lake is a reservoir located in Northern California, fed by the American River. Its history dates back to the 1950s, when it was built as part of the Central Valley Project to provide water for agriculture and urban areas. The hydrology of the lake is controlled by the Folsom Dam, which regulates water flows for flood control and hydroelectric power. The lake receives water from various sources, including the American River, several creeks and streams, and snowpack from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake is used for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and camping, and also serves as a critical water source for agriculture in the region. However, in recent years, the lake has faced challenges due to droughts and water shortages, impacting both agricultural and recreational uses.
Daily levels at Folsom Lake
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Folsom Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,550 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Arcade C Nr Del Paso Heights Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 358 cfs | → |
| Morrison C Nr Sacramento Ca | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Folsom Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Natoma Northern Boat Ramp
- Willow Creek Boat Ramp
- Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, Gold River
- Park Road, Granite Bay
- Green Valley Road 661, El Dorado Hills
- Pennsylvania Avenue 3885, Fair Oaks
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sunrise Avenue To Watt Avenue
- The Gorge
- Coloma To Greenwood - (C To G)
- Chili Bar
- South Fork American River
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
More reservoirs
Track Folsom Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Folsom Lake
Where does the data for Folsom Lake come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Folsom Lake.