In The News: New Flood Control Gates Headed To Folsom Dam

On February 10, 2014 the Sacramento Bee Newspaper reported that new steel flood control gates are headed for installation at Folsom Dam. According to the article the project to design and install the gates cost around a billion dollars and was funded with Federal tax dollars. The gates will double the level of flood protection the dam offers to Sacramento and other communities downstream on the American River. The old gates on the dam required the release of large amounts of flood water as recently as 1986. The article states these flood waters nearly overwhelmed Sacramento area levees.