Folsom Dam, located on the American River, is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The 66-year-old concrete gravity dam regulates runoff and provides flood control protection, water supply, and hydropower for the Sacramento area.

This dam raise project increases flood storage and reduces downstream flood risk. The main dam will be retrofitted by raising eight floodgates, and the right- and left-wing earthen dams will be raised by building concrete floodwalls.