Folsom Lake level highest in 5 years

Federal officials are releasing water from fast-rising Folsom Lake, which reached its highest level for this date in at least five years. After late winter and spring storms brought the Sierra Nevada snowpack up to near normal, federal officials opened spillways this week at Folsom and Nimbus dams on the American River to make room for snowmelt. Rising quickly through late March, Folsom reached 258 feet above sea level a week ago, the highest level this time of year in at least five seasons, according to Lakesonline.com. While the early April storm system brought roughly 10,000 cubic feet per second into the lake for several days in a row last week, officials opened the gates to increase Folsom outflow from 1,500 or so cfs to 7,000 cfs per day Monday, according to state charts. As of Wednesday, Folsom outflow was tabbed at 6,547 cfs while inflow fell to 7,412 cfs. The lake level has stayed steady at 458 feet above sea level since April 5. The Federal Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for daily operations and releases from the reservoir. It's operated as part of one integrated Central Valley Project system, which includes Trinity, Shasta, New Melones and Millerton reservoirs. The agency releases water from Folsom for many reasons, including water supply, water quality in the Delta and endangered and threatened species. Local agencies tapping Folsom Lake water include SMUD, El Dorado Irrigation District, city of Roseville, Sacramento County Water Agency, Sacramento County, San Juan Water District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Placer County Water Agency and city of Folsom. The city of Folsom has water rights dating to 1851, among the most senior in the state. The city long ago secured water supply contracts for 34,000 acre-feet of water from Folsom Lake and currently uses less than 2 percent of the water that passes through Folsom Dam each year, staff said. Water customers in the city, on average, use about 19,400 acre-feet of water annually, according to the city website. At build-out expected by 2045, water use in Folsom is forecast to reach about 25,500 acre-feet annually, well below the amount of water the city has rights to claim and obtain for public use. Folsom Lake has a capacity of 976,000 acre-feet, and "full pool" is 466 feet above sea level. The Lake features some 10,000 surface acres of water when full and 75 miles of shoreline. Enough water passes through the reservoir to fill and empty it two to three times during a wet year, authorities said.