Folsom Lake Water Level
California · American River
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Water level history
About Folsom Lake
Folsom Lake is a reservoir on the American River in California, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Its full summer pool sits at 466 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from California's Department of Water Resources (CDEC) and update daily.
Understanding Folsom Lake's water level
Folsom Lake sits where the American River leaves the Sierra foothills just northeast of Sacramento, and it is a working part of the federal Central Valley Project rather than a steady recreation pond. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates it for flood control, hydropower, drinking water and irrigation, with recreation managed at the surrounding state recreation area. Maximum elevation is 466 feet above sea level, but Folsom is run through a real seasonal cycle: it is typically held around 440 feet in early summer and drawn down toward 405 feet by early winter so there is room to catch Sierra storm runoff.
That makes Folsom much more seasonal than the giant Colorado River reservoirs. It fills from winter storms and spring snowmelt, peaks in late spring or early summer, and then declines through the dry Sacramento summer as water is released for cities and farms. In wet years it can refill quickly, but drought drops it hard: during the 2012 to 2013 drought the water fell low enough that Mormon Island, submerged for 58 years, reappeared, and the old Salmon Falls Bridge became visible on the lake's eastern arm. Levels below 400 feet mark a serious dry spell.
For the roughly Sacramento-area crowd, that swing is very visible, because aquatic activities account for the great majority of visits to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. When the lake is high the boat ramps and beaches are busy; when it drops toward winter pool or a drought low, ramps are extended or closed and long stretches of lakebed emerge. The fishery includes largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, catfish and sunfish, all of which shift with the changing water.
Folsom Lake — frequently asked
Why does Folsom Lake's water level change so much through the year?
Folsom is a Central Valley Project reservoir run for flood control and water supply, so it is drawn down in fall and winter, typically toward 405 feet, to keep room for Sierra storm runoff, then refilled by winter storms and spring snowmelt toward about 440 feet in early summer before declining again through the dry season.
What is the normal operating range for Folsom Lake?
Maximum elevation is 466 feet above sea level. In normal operation the lake runs between about 440 feet in early summer and about 405 feet in early winter, and it can drop below 400 feet during drought.
Why is Folsom Lake low in late summer?
By late summer the winter and spring runoff has been released for cities, farms and downstream needs, and the dry Sacramento-region summer adds little inflow, so the lake naturally declines. That seasonal drop is expected and is usually reversed by the next wet winter.
What appears when Folsom Lake gets very low?
During the 2012 to 2013 drought the water dropped far enough that Mormon Island, underwater for 58 years, reappeared, and the historic Salmon Falls Bridge on the eastern arm became visible. At those levels boat ramps are extended or closed as the shoreline retreats.
What fish are in Folsom Lake?
The lake holds largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, catfish and sunfish. Because the level swings widely, fishing access and conditions change with the season.
What is Folsom Lake used for?
It provides flood control, drinking water, irrigation water and hydropower as part of the Central Valley Project, and the surrounding state recreation area is heavily used for boating, fishing and swimming, with aquatic activities making up most visits.
Other lakes near Folsom Lake
- Lake BerryessaCA
- Don Pedro ReservoirCA
- Lake HavasuAZ/CA
- New Melones LakeCA
- Lake OrovilleCA
- Lake ShastaCA
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