News Release Archive

Reclamation Increases Releases from Folsom Dam to American River; from Shasta Dam to the Sacramento River

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916 978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: March 16, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that it will increase releases into the American River from Folsom Dam, located about 25 miles east of Sacramento, California, and into the Sacramento River from Shasta Dam, located about 12 miles north of Redding, California.

Reclamation will increase releases from Folsom Dam into the lower American River by 5,000 cubic feet per second to 25,000 cfs at 4 p.m. and will increase releases from Shasta Dam into the Sacramento River by 10,000 cfs to a total of 25,000 cfs beginning at 1 p.m. today for flood control management. The increased releases are necessary to meet flood-space regulatory requirements within the reservoirs. The increased releases will remain at that rate until further notice.

People recreating in or along the American or Sacramento rivers should take appropriate safety precautions during periods of high river flows.

Please note that some sections of the bike trail along the American River and parts of Discovery Park may become inundated as flows increase. Discovery Park, along Interstate 5, is located in the city of Sacramento.

Further Information

Releases from Folsom Dam Daily information on expected flows in the American River can be found on the California Data Exchange Center website at http://cdec.water.ca.gov./cgi-progs/getAll?sens_num=23 or on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at http://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/generic/rel_rep_s.html. For information on the American River, please visit Reclamation's Central Valley Operation Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo.

Releases from Shasta Dam Daily information on expected flows in the Sacramento River can be found on the California Data Exchange Center website at http://cdec.water.ca.gov./cgi-progs/getAll?sens_num=23or on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at http://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/generic/rel_rep_s.html. For information on the American River, please visit Reclamation's Central Valley Operations Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.