68 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

Yes, it’s true. In spite of the fact that we’re in the midst of a drought, Folsom dam operators may soon be forced to start releasing water down the American River.

 

The problem is that a legal winter capacity limit was established following a near flood disaster in 1986, and since then, operators must release water if the capacity rises above 59%, or 577,000 acre feet. As of midnight, it was at 558,000 acre feet, or 57%, and rising at a rate of 500 acre feet per hour.

 

It could reach the legal limit within the next 2 days.

 

When the new dyke and spillway projects are complete, the lake will have added protection and become more efficient at holding and releasing water, preventing this from happening again. In the meantime, despite the drought, they have to send water down the river.

 

[2 Aces]

It's true. Channel 3 explained it pretty well last night. Not sure how wise it is, but oh well.

Also, check this out:

http://www.kcra.com/...m-lake/37790478

[maestro]

Yes, it’s true. In spite of the fact that we’re in the midst of a drought, Folsom dam operators may soon be forced to start releasing water down the American River.

 

The problem is that a legal winter capacity limit was established following a near flood disaster in 1986, and since then, operators must release water if the capacity rises above 59%, or 577,000 acre feet. As of midnight, it was at 558,000 acre feet, or 57%, and rising at a rate of 500 acre feet per hour.

 

It could reach the legal limit within the next 2 days.

 

When the new dyke and spillway projects are complete, the lake will have added protection and become more efficient at holding and releasing water, preventing this from happening again. In the meantime, despite the drought, they have to send water down the river.

 

 

 

 

Good coverage Steve.     IMO it is a shame the feds refuse to wake up to climate change and reality.     It makes no sense to operate on flood regulations adopted  decades ago --   when the climate was different.      It used to snow and rain, and the population was 25% of what it is now.      IMO feds need to wake up and consult some real science.

 

Aside from that, the city dependent upon this single water source needs to provide some Retention Ponds for storing water for the drought.      Violating Measure W is a horrific mistake.    Pretending an additional 27,000 houses can be added to our limited water supply is some form of unreality.

 

Many people are afraid to speak up against malfeasance;     but they need to object.

[john]

How about they just ask us all to take some long showers without guilt?

[apeman45]

Good one John!!!

 

Maestro - Do you know how close we got to overtopping the dam and a major flood in 1986?  If it had rained for 2 more hours the dam could have failed.  The sun came out just in time and the levees BARELY held even though out of desperation the safe outflow was purposely exceeded on what the levees were designed for.  

 

It is based on real science by trained experts.  The fact that the population has increased makes it even more vital to prevent a catastrophic flood event.  Whether you believe in global warming or not the science supports the need to have this flood protection.  With the strong El Nino in place the chance of a warm pineapple express coming through and melting all the snow at once is a real possibility and needs to be planned for.  The reason the lake shot up was because of such a storm  last week where it rained all the way up to 9000 feet. You get 2 or 3 of those storms lined up and the lake is too full then bye bye dam and Sacramento.  It's not political but based on real dangers.  Why do you think the Army Corp is spending billions on the spillway?  It will fix this problem and only then can we store more water earlier.  The American river watershed, specifically Folsom Dam, the levees and the cities and towns downstream have the poorest flood protection of a major metropolitan area in the country with 1 in 100 year flood protection.  It's even worse than New Orleans.  Later in the season if the weather conditions and snowpack dictate it the feds might make an exception and fill the dam a little earlier.  The snowpack typically peaks April 1st.

 

I do strongly agree with your assertion that the City of Folsom thinks we have enough water to build on the other side of highway 50.  That still seems illegal that they came up with the extra water by claiming conserved water was new water.  Just accept that developers run our city council and dictate where and how much we build and how much of a discount they get on permitting fees.  Seems like a good time to make the new construction on the other side of highway 50 to be required to have grey water recovery systems and have their own water treatment plant and put all landscaping on reclaimed water.  It can be financed with a mello roos tax.  The developers won't make as much money but if that's the case they can build elsewhere.  They already cried to the city council and had the permit fees reduced so me and you are helping to finance and water the north of 50 project.

[Steve Heard]

I do strongly agree with your assertion that the City of Folsom thinks we have enough water to build on the other side of highway 50.  That still seems illegal that they came up with the extra water by claiming conserved water was new water.  .

 

That was one of the ideas Chad Vanderveen proposed when he ran for City Council. I think it's where all communities should be in the future. 

 

 

Aside from that, the city dependent upon this single water source needs to provide some Retention Ponds for storing water for the drought.      Violating Measure W is a horrific mistake.    Pretending an additional 27,000 houses can be added to our limited water supply is some form of unreality.

 

 

I agree that we need more storage, but the actual house count will be about 10,000, not 27,000.

[ducky]

Apeman, I was here in '86.  I remember when the Auburn cofferdam collapsed that year.  I even have photos somewhere of what it looked like just below the Rainbow Bridge.  It looked like a muddy Colorado River with rapids they were letting out so much water.

 

I just read an article about how we haven't met the governor's water conservation goals.  I'm trying to figure out why that matters right now for places like the city of Folsom.  I like John's idea, except make mine a bubble bath with the tub completely full.  It's the least I could do to prevent a flood.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Apeman, I was here in '86.  I remember when the Auburn cofferdam collapsed that year.  I even have photos somewhere of what it looked like just below the Rainbow Bridge.  It looked like a muddy Colorado River with rapids they were letting out so much water.
 
I just read an article about how we haven't met the governor's water conservation goals.  I'm trying to figure out why that matters right now for places like the city of Folsom.  I like John's idea, except make mine a bubble bath with the tub completely full.  It's the least I could do to prevent a flood.

Me too. Standing Rapids under the rainbow bridge. The bridge was vibrating and they stopped traffic on it. The parking lot at negro bar flooded. And you could hear the roar from sutter street. It was cool!

[Sandman]

I thought the new spillway dam was suppose to allow them to more aggressively hold water back during the winter months?

[zook]

I thought the new spillway dam was suppose to allow them to more aggressively hold water back during the winter months?

Yes. As soon as it is completed.

[apeman45]

Ducky - I would love to see those photos!  

 

This kind of justifies the expense of the new spillway.  Too bad it's not ready yet.  

 

I found some interesting articles about the 1986 event.  I remember every available agency was out on the levees below Folsom Dam all the way to Sac praying it would hold.  It leaked in a few places but managed to hold long enough to avert a major disaster.  The lake also exceeded it's designed capacity but held. The 1st link tells the story and the other links are kind of boring statistics but pretty interesting.  Three officials just went for it and opened the flood gates way more than the system was designed for. It was because of this storm that the rules were changed and more flood capacity in the early season was required.

 

Folsom's inflow peaked at 181,000 cfs and was temporarily at 607,000 cfs when the Auburn coffer dam broke.  They released 134,000 cfs even though the system was only designed for 120,000.  Enough water flowed into the lake in 5 days to more than fill the lake - 1.1 million acre feet and the dam holds about 1 million acre feet.

 

http://parkwayblog.b...r-reminder.html

 

http://www.cnrfc.noa...b1986storms.php

 

http://thestormking...._disaster_.html

[JohhnyCash]

Get your tinfoil hats ready.  Releases have been raised to the inflow level.

[TruthSeeker]

How about they just ask us all to take some long showers without guilt?

 

That's what I'm thinking too. If there's plenty of water to build 10,000 more houses and also release mass amounts of water for fish downstream then there's plenty of water to take a super long shower several times a day. I think I'll go hose off my driveway and sidewalks too.

[slowthegrowth]

Serious question : if the lake is the primary source of our water...and it's as full as it can be with normal snow pack ready for the spring/summer supply, how can we still be in a "drought"?
We have as much supply as any other non-drought year. I always wondered what point would the lake need to be at to call off the restrictions. ...if it's dangerously high, what are they waiting for?
Please don't tell me about deep aquifers elsewhere in the state....we use the lake...it's full....the snow melt awaits.

[mrdavex]

Actually they should be asking us to fill all our empty milk jugs with water, store them, and them dump them back in the lake in the Summer