Folsom dam
Folsom
Folsom Dam, located on the American River in Sacramento, California, is a key federal hydroelectric facility owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Completed in 1956, this concrete gravity dam stands at a towering height of 275 feet and has a structural height of 340 feet, providing essential water storage for irrigation, recreation, and hydroelectric power generation. With a storage capacity of over 1 million acre-feet and a surface area of 11,180 acres, Folsom Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
The dam has undergone modifications in 2000 to enhance its foundation, hydraulic, seismic, and structural integrity, ensuring its continued safety and reliability. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Folsom Dam is regularly inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation to uphold its operational standards. Additionally, the dam has an emergency action plan in place, meeting guidelines to effectively manage any unforeseen events. With Congressman Ami Bera representing the area, Folsom Dam remains a vital infrastructure for water supply, flood control, and energy production in the state.
In summary, Folsom Dam stands as a significant engineering feat that not only provides essential water storage and hydroelectric power but also contributes to irrigation and recreational opportunities along the American River. With its impressive storage capacity and structural design, coupled with regular inspections and emergency preparedness measures, Folsom Dam remains a critical asset in water resource management for the Sacramento region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
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 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,300 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 | · | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 271 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 587 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Folsom.
Boat launches
- Lake Natoma Northern Boat Ramp
- Park Road, Granite Bay
- Green Valley Road 661, El Dorado Hills
- Oaks Nature Trail El Dorado County
- Willow Creek Boat Ramp
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
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 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Folsom
Where does the data for Folsom come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High 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 dam, 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.