Folsom Lake less than half full after recent rains. Residents ask, why so dry? https://t.co/SXTtHKOcoj
— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) January 25, 2017
Folsom Dam operators say the low levels are necessary to protect Sacramento from flooding. With runoff from recent storms subsiding and forecasts of sunny skies through early next week, dam operators are gradually dialing back releases into the lower American River below Folsom Dam. That should allow the lake to rise again....
That’s small comfort for some local residents, such as Steve Clark, who grew tired of seeing their lake drained practically dry during California’s historic five-year drought.
Clark said he’s frustrated that the lake’s been reduced to an “ugly brown puddle,” and he’s worried that even with bountiful rain the lake won’t be allowed to fill this spring. He argues that draining Folsom Lake is bad for local property values, limits summer recreation and harms the region’s water supply....
Louis Moore, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Folsom Dam, said he understands such complaints, but dam managers are required to keep space in the lake as a buffer to protect Sacramento from flooding.
After drought, California urgently needs to focus on big picture of water management https://t.co/HCGZCgSOOS, by @JayLund113 #CAwater
— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) January 27, 2017
