South Fork American River

The South Fork of the American River begins in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about 5 miles east of the Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort. California's wet season offers up waves of rain and snow to these mountains October through May. In spring, the winter snow melts and begins to travel westward. Through lush pines, striking granite landscapes and quaint communities, the South Fork of the American River journeys toward the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The South Fork is joined by many creeks along the way and in total captures the water from about 840 square miles.

The South Fork of the American River travels around 90 miles before it becomes part of the American River. A few major man-made reservoirs and many other smaller ones contain and restrict the natural flow of the South Fork of the American River watershed. The major dams include Union Valley Reservoir built in 1963, Slab Creek Reservoir built in 1967, Chili Bar Reservoir built in 1964 and Folsom Lake Reservoir built in 1955. Folsom Lake Reservoir is technically built on the American River but consequently floods the confluence of the North and South Forks of the American and when the lake is at capacity it backs well up their perspective watersheds. The American River then continues down to meet the Sacramento River near downtown Sacramento. From there, it pours out to meet with the San Joaquin River in the San Francisco Bay delta.