High & Dry

Folsom Lake was created in 1955 by Folsom Dam, a concrete dam

flanked by earth wing dams and dikes with a total length of about 9 miles.

That 9 miles is the length of the Dam...  If you click on any photo

you can get an up close and personal view.

I've zoomed up here to  give you a better view of the "flood gates" which,

as you can see, are high & dry above the current water level.

No kidding...  This lake usually features some 10,000 surface acres

of water when full and 75 miles of shoreline.  Over the years

I have hiked many of the trails around it and kayaked many

miles of shoreline, but not all 75 miles.

Looking at a part of the earthen dam, the high water line would

normally be at those rocks just this side of the green grassy area.

It sits at an elevation is 466 ft.

Folsom Lake, a critical water supply to the Sacramento region, is 

among the most depleted reservoirs in the state.  However,  it  has risen

 from 28% capacity to 35% just between Oct 1 and Nov 15th,  

according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Still looks high & dry to me... there should be water up

to those rocks in the foreground.

 

The normal lake capacity this time of year would find 

Folsom Lake 83% full.  

As we continued to walk around the perimeter of the campground area 

here at Beals Point, we could hardly believe what we saw.

But Folsom Lake is not alone.  With  the exception of the Don Pedro reservoir,

 all California’s reservoirs have fallen well below 50 percent capacity.

Stark signs of drought fatigue are everywhere 

with  the wet season still months away.

This otherwise beautiful full lake is only about a 10 minute

 drive from where we now live.    

Even though it's no laughing matter, this "no lifeguards on duty"

sign made me chuckle... speaking of "High & Dry".

This short video may give you a better perspective.