The current infrastructure was designed to support 18 million people... so yes... with 39 million people we have a problem.

Rivers were not meant to be damned. Your great-grandchildren will reap what you sow

Dams are not necessarily unpopular, specially if built in the tight places. The Auburn Dam is one of those that is on the wrong place and for the wrong reasons. All they want to do is provide half assurance of flood control downstream so they can build more houses in the flood plain. I say half assurance since this dam will do absolutely nothing for the Sacramento River watershed. Look back to 1952 or so and all the other floods that have hit the area and they were caused by levee failures on the Sacramento River, up river from the confluence with the American. I'm going by memory and there may have been other incidents but the biggies were all caused by the Sacramento, not the American after Folsom Dam.

The Auburn Dam would be nothing more than a gift to the developers from the taxpayers.

Y-S, tag, you're it.

Dam=Water Storage,Green Power Generation, Recreation for more people than a river, Flood Control, Fishing, Economic Development, Employment, Tax revenue.

Observer, What about beavers?

Rivers were not meant to be damned? I guess we'll have to round up all the beavers and put them in re-education camps.

Really, what a dangerously stupid statement!

People complain about letter writers who for weeks write about the VFP, deer hunts, redevelopment downtown, etc. as being old news and that it is time to let it go. Talk about OLD news. The Auburn Dam is OLD news and it is really time to let it go!

Loomis: There is a phenomena called a "hydraulic dam" that occurs at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers. To my understanding it happens when increased flows from the American displace the flow of the Sacramento, causing the Sacramento to "back up" resulting in higher river levels upstream. Therefore, logically, if there is less flow from the American river drainage during flood events, it releaves pressure upstream in the Sacramento and helps the flooding situation there. With that said, I am against the Auburn dam for purely selfish reasons. I grew up spending a lot of time in the North Fork canyon. It should not be submerged by a lake if there are alternatives like refraining from further development in floodplains, retrofitting the levies, and building "dry dams" like San Luis reservior to store more water.

whatisay, I don't know a thing about hydraulic dams so I won't argue but since we are on the same page and for basically the same reasons on the Auburn Dam, why argue at all?

Loomis: not arguing---just throwing it out there. I found it interesting to be informed of the phenomenon when I had previously made a statement similar to yours a few years ago.

Thank you JonGreen

I agree with Rolandmc that it is old news. If people have a need to keep bringing it up, then please generate something new and/or newsworthy. There are real problems with water, so what we need is forward thinking, not the same-old same-old. Here's a starting point for an article by a local that addresses water and energy at once, with ideas supported by "green" groups.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20149129/Desalination-energy-harnessing-industrial-units-A-representative-observation-on-obstinate-obstacles

BTW - whatisay made a good comment that is an example of at least looking outside the box.

I have never really had much of an opinion on this subject, but I do know that when the dams are built, it wreaks havoc on the native fish, just a thought to throw out there.

Do you all want me to mention "who" has been bringing it up lately......

.... thought not.

Hint. Begins with "M"

Oh, and then there's Ben Mavy, who wants something put on the ballot about what to do with the American River watershed. Perhaps he could explain this. It was in the PCWA minutes.

California needs more dams like it needs more illegals.

"If we don’t build more dams and reservoirs, we face a serious problem with our increasing population."

California needs more population control,not dams!! Dams are the downfall of California!!!!

WhatIsay posted "Therefore, logically, if there is less flow from the American river drainage during flood events, it releaves pressure upstream in the Sacramento and helps the flooding situation there." Where is the logic in this? Ever hear of a big dam called Folsom that catches all three forks of the American rivers! Which 75% comes from the south fork of the American!! The north fork of the American is one of the shortest drainages in the whole state, as it is cut off at its head waters by the Yuba river drainage!! These are just a few of the facts about the auburn dumb...........oops I mean dam, I could go on for days but I will spare everybody

whitewaterjunkies,

"California needs more population control,not dams!!" Who would rent your rafts?

JonGreen,I don't rent rafts. Jon, how do you figure there will be more recreation if there was a dam? Lets see a lake offers boating,marginal fishing and that's about it! The natural canyons as is offer world class kayaking and rafting, hiking,camping,great fishing,horseback riding,world class downhill mountain biking,mining,pristine swimming holes,historical sites,sight seeing and many more!!! Most would disappear along with about thirty miles of the historic western states trail!! Jon,power generation and flood control do not work together! It is more like an oxy moron! No offense!

The first dam we need to build is between the US and Mexico.

Think of it as "employment generation".

whitewater, Look at the data on the recreational use of Folsom Lake compared to the use of the American River. I'm talking about the number of people that use the areas.

whitewaterjunkies: Look on a map--the headwaters of the north fork go all the way to an area behind soda springs known as "The Cedars" The South Fork of the Yuba is on the north side of I-80, completely seperate. The uncontrolled North Fork is spectacular at flood stage! contributing mucho water to Folsom...more than it can handle. South fork American is highly controlled--that's why you can raft there all summer. However, since we agree in our opposition to the dam, why argue? Just learn to read a map.

Folks on this topic everyone seems to be forgetting the most important issue "agricultural production". If we don't have the water we can't produce food, if we can't produce food you can bet the poulation will decrease. When the farmers and ranchers go out of business this state is done. Im sorry but if you own 5 acres of land you can not be self sustaining. Sure you can grow a garden, maybe raise a pig, but you are going to need so much more than that.

Retail businesses will not survive without the agrarian community, agriculture will not survive without water. We need the dams! Who needs a lawn anyway? Who needs a gold course? Who needs agricultural production...Everyone!

I made a typo: the above should read "Who needs a golf course?".

Born_Here, Wait just one minute, food comes from SaveMart, Winco, Costco, and Raleys. Why do we need farmers?

PS: I need a golf course as do the two million golfers in the US.

JonGreen,

I admit I smack the little white ball with a stick every once in a while, but I can do it in a cow pasture using gopher holes (probably with better success). I know what roll the ball is going to take of that cowpie, etc. :)

LR, not the Sacramento River, it was the Feather River that burst the levee, it has since been controlled by Oroville Dam.

The dam mainly protects Butte County and area along the Feather River from large flooding. Floods occurred every few years, costing the residents of the area millions in damages. For example, in December of 1955, the largest flood to date caused damages along the Feather River in excess of $82 million (Report on Reservoir Regulation for Flood Control).

The last thing we need in Ca. are more dams, oil, nuclear power, natural gas, human innovation, or jobs.

What we really need are more marxist politicians, and more environmentalists prohibiting all of the above.

Their motto oughta be "No We Can't"

Where is W.E. Du Bois when we need him.