Dam thoughts: A history of Folsom Dam

May 5, 2026, will mark 70 years since the dedication of the Folsom Dam. When full, the dam can hold more than 1 million acre-feet of water and includes a powerplant that generates electricity for the region. Its construction also led to the creation of Folsom Lake, now one of the city's most popular destinations for recreation and tourism. Although the dam itself is 70 years old, its story begins more than a century ago – in 1925. In the early decades of the 20th century, engineers in the Sacramento region began developing plans for large-scale irrigation projects that would support agriculture, infrastructure, recreation and flood control. In 1925, the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce held a meeting to discuss a proposed dam site located near Folsom Prison. The goal was to store water that was "wasted during the winter and spring months" and supply Sacramento with water during the summer months. For the next decade, engineers, governors, senators and city officials would advocate for the proposed Folsom dam site. In the early 1940s, engineers and geologists conducted tests and confirmed the site was suitable for the construction of a large dam. The project finally gained traction in 1947, when demands for water in the region began to exceed the present supplies. At this time, cities throughout Northern California were thirsting for a new water source and hoped this project would offer a cheap and abundant supply. Construction officially began in 1948, and on May 17, 1955, the final bucket of concrete was poured. On May 5, 1956, the Folsom Dam was dedicated, and a project more than three decades in the planning was finally completed. While the lake and dam have become highlights to the city and region, they also include a sad past. Throughout their development, many in Folsom and the surrounding area pushed back against the project for a multitude of reasons. Some believed the development of the dam, and subsequently a recreational lake, would attract too many people to the area. Others viewed the project as an infringement on the rights and lives of those living on land that would be inundated by the lake. Communities that were forced to relocate included the once-thriving gold rush towns of Mormon Island and Salmon Falls, both of which still had many families living on properties dating to the Gold Rush. Elma Atchinson, who lived in Salmon Falls, wrote a letter to a friend in 1954 sharing her thoughts on the dam impacting her community. She said, "I am not in sympathy with the dam project. ... We have the upheavals of our pioneer cemeteries where our forefathers were laid to rest after long years of hard work building homes for their families and improving their surroundings. A dam, two if necessary, could have been built higher up where mountains would help in holding back the water." The destruction of these communities meant the loss of historic buildings as well. Despite these sentiments, the Folsom Dam devoured the land that encompassed some of the oldest towns in the region. These remnants can still be found today when the water level is low. On a more positive note, over the last 70 years, the dam and lake have become one of California's top attractions. Most years, more than 1.5 million people take a dip in the lake or hike the beautiful trails around it, making it one of the top 10 most visited State Parks. Not only has the lake become an iconic destination to visit, it has even made appearances in film. Did you know? Captain America rode his motorcycle across the Folsom Dam in the 1979 film "Captain America II: Death Too Soon." The hero can be seen driving down the roads past Folsom Prison, ultimately finding his way across the Folsom Dam. How will you celebrate the 70th anniversary of Folsom Dam and Folsom Lake? Boating, kayaking, hiking or picnicking? I think I will be lounging on the lakeside with a good book this summer! Tyler Tocci is the operations and collections director for Folsom History. Tocci holds an M.A. in Public History from California State University, Sacramento.