The 30 Best Environmental parks in Folsom, California

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Folsom Dam, located at 7794 Folsom Dam Road in Folsom, California, is a popular tourist attraction known for creating Folsom Lake in 1955. The dam, made of concrete and earth wing dams, spans about 9 miles and holds around 10,000 surface acres of water when full. With 75 miles of shoreline, the lake extends 15 miles up the north fork and 10 1/2 miles up the south fork of the American River. Operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, Folsom Dam serves multiple purposes including flood control, water storage for irrigation and power generation, preservation of the American river fishery, and water-related recreation. The dam's main structure is a 340-foot high concrete center section flanked by earthen wing dams, holding over a million acre-feet of water in Folsom Lake. The Folsom Powerplant, located below the dam, generates 198,207 kilowatts of power annually. Visitors can learn more about the dam and its functions at the American River Water Education Center, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.