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Topic: Folsom Dam

Overview April 24, 2014

Folsom Dam

Folsom Dam, located on the American River above the city of Sacramento, is part of the Central Valley Project. It includes water storage (Folsom Lake), power generation and conveyance facilities.

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Aquafornia news January 25, 2023 KCRA - Sacramento

Wednesday Top of the Scroll: 2 big California reservoirs hit highest levels in 2.5 years

California’s water supply has hit a new milestone for the year in the wake of three weeks of wet weather. Water levels at two of the state’s largest reservoirs are now at their highest point in 2.5 years, Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan said. … Lake Shasta and Oroville have both added more than 1 million acre-feet of water in the past month and the levels continue to rise. Inflow rates into those reservoirs have decreased considerably, which is to be expected during periods of dry weather. As of Tuesday, Lake Shasta is at 55% of its total capacity and Lake Oroville is at 62% of capacity. Last summer, Lake Shasta peaked at about 40% of its total capacity.

Related articles: 

  • Fox 5 – San Diego: 7 billion gallons of water fill up San Diego reservoirs, but what does this mean for the county’s drought levels?
  • Mercury News: Before and after images of Irvine Lake with a billion gallons of new water
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Aquafornia news January 18, 2023 KCRA - Sacramento

Shasta, Oroville, Folsom reservoir levels after weeks of rain

Without a doubt, weeks of rain and snow since late December are absolutely helping with California’s water supply. But how much help exactly is a question many have been asking. KCRA 3 Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan goes over where water reservoirs in Northern California stand. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot of good news. … Shasta is the state’s biggest reservoir, able to hold 4 1/2 million acre-feet of water. As of Jan. 17, it stands at 52% capacity compared to 34% a year ago. … As of Jan. 17, [Folsom] is at 54% capacity compared to 56% a year ago. The thing to understand about Folsom’s capacity right now is that it is already in flood control mode, meaning that water is already being released to balance out the reservoir because there is still plenty of the year to go. And then there’s the snowpack to consider when it melts.

Related articles: 

  • San Diego Union Tribune: All the rain and snow in California may result in a big year for hydro — and that’s good news for the grid
  • Fox 40 – Sacramento: Lake Tahoe snowpack levels nearly 250% of normal
  • Ukiah Daily Journal: U.S. Army Corps begins releasing water from Lake Mendocino
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Aquafornia news January 13, 2023 Courthouse News Service

California drought outlook improves after weeks of historic storms

No, California’s drought is not over, not by a long shot. But weeks of near-constant rainfall have improved the situation considerably, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s weekly report released Thursday. The map updated Thursday shows most of the state in moderate or severe drought after about seven atmospheric river storms swept through the state since Christmas Day. Only a small portion in the extreme northeastern portion of the state remains in extreme drought, while the northwestern corner of the state and much of Imperial County dropped to the lowest level of drought, termed abnormally dry. The Sacramento and Central valleys, which were in extreme and extraordinary drought just three months ago, have seen conditions improve to severe.

Related articles: 

  • Sacramento Bee: California reservoirs and snowpack see big boosts as storms ease drought conditions
  • Los Angeles Times: Nearly all of California exits the worst drought categories in U.S. Drought Monitor
  • San Francisco Chronicle: Is California still in drought after storms? What maps and charts show
  • Los Angeles Times: How California’s slew of storms stack up to previous drought-busters
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Aquafornia news January 12, 2023 NPR

How dynamically managing California’s reservoirs could save more water

Despite several weeks of torrential rain and flooding, California is still facing a severe multi-year drought. That has many people thinking about how to better capture winter floodwaters to last through the dry season. An innovative approach at two California reservoirs could help boost the state’s water supply, potentially marking a larger shift from decades-old water management approaches to a system that can quickly adapt to precipitation in a changing climate. At issue are rules that, at face value, seem perplexing to many Californians. Even in a chronically dry state, reservoirs are not allowed to fill up in the winter. … Two sites, Folsom Reservoir and Lake Mendocino, are rethinking this by using weather forecasts to guide their operations. Instead of sticking to set rules, they only empty out if a major storm is forecasted for the days ahead.

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Aquafornia news January 10, 2023 Western Farm Press

Opinion: Will current storms be an opportunity lost?

California is on the cusp of an opportunity squandered. The atmospheric river and “cyclone bomb” projections suggest well over 10 inches of rain and as many feet of snow could fall on the state within a week’s time. What is California doing, amidst the governor’s declared state of emergency, to squirrel away as much of that runoff and flood water as the state’s infrastructure will allow? With all this known water coming into the system, why isn’t the State of California moving as much water as can physically be moved into San Luis Reservoir? Roughly half of the reservoir’s water at full pool is owned by the federal government, with the other half controlled by the state. A full San Luis Reservoir means more water for Central Valley farmers and more available water for the State Water Project. 
-Written by Todd Fitchette.

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Aquafornia news January 6, 2023 Sacramento News & Review

The American River Basin Study: Diversifying where we get our water is key to combating climate change

We don’t always treat water like the life-sustaining resource it is. Instead, we take it for granted: With the turn of a tap, it’s at our fingertips to drink, grow our food and keep our communities clean. But according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, it’s time for changes if we want that to continue. Their recently released American River Basin study highlights the growing imbalance between water supply and consumer demand. With the stresses of population growth, regulatory updates, and the effects of climate change, this disparity will only get worse without new strategies and approaches to keep water flowing.

Related article:

  • Western Water Rewind: As Climate Change Erodes Western Snowpacks, One Watershed Tries A ‘Supershed Approach’ To Shield Its Water Supply 
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Western Water November 21, 2019 California Water Map Gary Pitzer

Can a New Approach to Managing California Reservoirs Save Water and Still Protect Against Floods?
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK: Pilot Projects Testing Viability of Using Improved Forecasting to Guide Reservoir Operations

Bullards Bar Dam spills water during 2017 atmospheric river storms.Many of California’s watersheds are notoriously flashy – swerving from below-average flows to jarring flood conditions in quick order. The state needs all the water it can get from storms, but current flood management guidelines are strict and unyielding, requiring reservoirs to dump water each winter to make space for flood flows that may not come.

However, new tools and operating methods are emerging that could lead the way to a redefined system that improves both water supply and flood protection capabilities.

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Tour June 27, 2019 - 7:30am - June 28, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Headwaters Tour Explores the Role of Forest Management in Watershed Health From Research to Application Learn About Atmospheric River Research and Forest Management on Headwaters Tour June 27-28

Headwaters Tour 2019
Field Trip - June 27-28

Sixty percent of California’s developed water supply originates high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our water supply is largely dependent on the health of our Sierra forests, which are suffering from ecosystem degradation, drought, wildfires and widespread tree mortality. 

  • Lorraine Flint Presentation
  • Angel Hertslet Presentation
  • Adam Jensen Presentation
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Western Water Excerpt May 15, 2017 Jenn Bowles

Enhancing California’s Water Supply: The Drive for New Storage
Spring 2017

One of the wettest years in California history that ended a record five-year drought has rejuvenated the call for new storage to be built above and below ground.

In a state that depends on large surface water reservoirs to help store water before moving it hundreds of miles to where it is used, a wet year after a long drought has some people yearning for a place to sock away some of those flood flows for when they are needed.

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Video May 27, 2014

A Climate of Change: Water Adaptation Strategies

This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an excellent overview of climate change and how it is already affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are underway to plan and adapt to climate.

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Video May 22, 2014

Shaping of the West: 100 Years of Reclamation

30-minute DVD that traces the history of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and its role in the development of the West. Includes extensive historic footage of farming and the construction of dams and other water projects, and discusses historic and modern day issues.

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Maps & Posters May 20, 2014

Water Cycle Poster

Water as a renewable resource is depicted in this 18×24 inch poster. Water is renewed again and again by the natural hydrologic cycle where water evaporates, transpires from plants, rises to form clouds, and returns to the earth as precipitation. Excellent for elementary school classroom use.

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Maps & Posters May 20, 2014

California Water Map, Spanish

Spanish language version of our California Water Map

Versión en español de nuestro mapa de agua de California

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Publication May 20, 2014

Layperson’s Guide to the Central Valley Project
Updated 2021

The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the Central Valley Project explores the history and development of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), California’s largest surface water delivery system. In addition to the project’s history, the guide describes the various CVP facilities, CVP operations, the benefits the CVP brought to the state and the CVP Improvement Act (CVPIA).

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Maps & Posters April 17, 2014 California Water Bundle

California Water Map
Updated December 2016

A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect gift for the water wonk in your life.

Our 24×36 inch California Water Map is widely known for being the definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts – including federally, state and locally funded projects – the wild and scenic rivers system, and natural lakes. The map features beautiful photos of California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects, wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the text focuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado River.

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Aquapedia background February 14, 2014 Layperson's Guide to Flood Management

Flood Management

Sacramento River flood control measures

Devastating floods are almost an annual occurrence in the West and in California. With the anticipated sea level rise and other impacts of a changing climate, particularly heavy winter rains, flood management is increasingly critical in California. Compounding the issue are human-made flood hazards such as levee instability and stormwater runoff.

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Water Academy

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  • Water Issues
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  • Water Supply and Management
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