Folsom lake has more than 11,500 surface acres when full and almost 75 miles of shoreline. The spillway elevation is 466 feet above sea level. Folsom Dam was placed just below the confluence of the north and south forks of the American River which divide the lake into three sections including the main lake body. The primary purpose of the dam was to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and irrigation. The resulting benefit of this dam was the creation of one of the most popular parks in the California State Park Systems. Each year between two and three million people visit this area for camping, fishing, sailing, horseback riding, picnicking and other outdoor activities and today, I was one of them.

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