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- Boat Removal Beginning at Reclamation's Folsom Lake Due to Dry-Year Reservoir Conditions
News Release Archive
Boat Removal Beginning at Reclamation's Folsom Lake Due to Dry-Year Reservoir Conditions
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, 08/05/2009 23:00
For Release: August 05, 2009
Folsom Lake Marina at the Bureau of Reclamation's Folsom Reservoir has begun notifications that boats will need to be removed from the marina by Tuesday, August 25, 2009, when the lake level is expected to drop to 412 feet in elevation.
Folsom Reservoir is part of the larger Central Valley Project and Reclamation uses water stored in Folsom to help meet the water needs in the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta.
Currently, releases to the American River are being made to meet water supply demands in the Central Valley, instream flow requirements for fish in the American River, and Delta water quality and outflow requirements. Folsom Reservoir is dropping by about ¾ of a foot per day at the current rate of inflow. The lake is also going down because of the demands of the communities in the greater Sacramento area. Today, Folsom Reservoir elevation is at 425 feet, about 573,000 acre-feet of storage.
It is not unusual to be below elevation 412 before the end of August and this has occurred 8 times since 1990.
The 2009 water year is classified as a "Dry" water year, the third in a row for California. Folsom Reservoir storage is at about 90% of average for this date while most other Northern California reservoirs are only at about 65% of average. Folsom Reservoir continues to play an important role in reducing drought impacts in the state this year and the storage levels will continue to drop through the summer. Reclamation will update projected reservoir elevations as new inflow estimates and release requirements are developed.
Please note that several boat ramps will remain open for the rest of the summer for boaters wishing to use the lake during the day. Boaters are asked to "think safety first" by following the speed limits and being cautious in avoiding debris and natural high spots in the reservoir.
Please contact Mr. Louis Moore at 916-978-5100 or visit Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ for information on the latest Folsom Reservoir operations. For information on ramp availability, please visit the Folsom Lake Marina website at http://www.folsomlakemarina.com. For information on other boat ramps, please contact the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area at 916-988-0205.
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