The American River Division is located in north-central California, on the east side of the Great Central Valley.
Its structures use the water of the American River, which drains off the Sierra Nevada and flows into the Sacramento River.
The division is further divided into three units: the Folsom, Sly Park and Auburn-Folsom South.
The American River Division stores water in the American River watershed, to both provide water supply for local settlements, and supply it to the rest of the system.
The dams also are an important flood control measure.
Hydroelectricity is generated at Folsom and Nimbus dams, and marketed to the Western Area Power Administration.

The Folsom Unit consists of Folsom Dam, its primary water storage component, and Nimbus Dam, which serves as its downstream forebay.
The Folsom Dam is located on the American River, and stores 1,010,000 acre feet (1,250,000 dam³) of water in its reservoir, Folsom Lake.
Folsom Lake covers 11,550 acres (4,670 ha) and is located inside the Folsom Lake State Recreational Area.
Eight additional earth fill saddle dams are required to keep the reservoir from overflowing.
The dam also generates 200 MW from three generators.
About 7 mi (11 km) downstream of Folsom Dam is the Nimbus Dam, forming Lake Natoma.
The dam generates 7.7 MW from two Kaplan turbines on the north side of the river.
The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is located downstream of Nimbus Dam, to compensate for the two dams' destruction of American River spawning grounds.

The Sly Park Unit includes Sly Park Dam, Jenkinson Lake, the Camp Creek Diversion Dam, and two diversion tunnels.
The Sly Park Dam and its similarly-sized auxiliary dam form Jenkinson Lake, which covers 650 acres (260 ha).
Jenkinson Lake feeds the Camino Conduit, a 5 mi (8.0 km) aqueduct.
The Camp Creek Diversion Dam diverts some water from Camp Creek into Jenkinson Lake.

The third unit is the Auburn-Folsom South Unit, consisting of several dams on American River tributaries.
These include Sugar Pine Dam and Pipeline (supplying water to Foresthill), and the uncompleted Folsom South Canal.
The primary component of the unit, concrete thin-arch Auburn Dam, was to be located on the North Fork of the American, but was never built because of the significant risk of earthquakes in the area, and general public opposition to the project.
However, the high Foresthill Bridge, built as part of the preliminary work for Auburn Dam, still stands.
County Line Dam, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Folsom Dam, was also never built.
The American River Division is located in north-central California, on the east side of the Great Central Valley. Its structures use the water of the American River, which drains off the Sierra Nevada and flows into the Sacramento River. The division is further divided into three units: the Folsom, Sly Park and Auburn-Folsom South. The American River Division stores water in the American River watershed, to both provide water supply for local settlements, and supply it to the rest of the system. The dams also are an important flood control measure. Hydroelectricity is generated at Folsom and Nimbus dams, and marketed to the Western Area Power Administration.
The Folsom Unit consists of Folsom Dam, its primary water storage component, and Nimbus Dam, which serves as its downstream forebay. The Folsom Dam is located on the American River, and stores 1,010,000 acre feet (1,250,000 dam³) of water in its reservoir, Folsom Lake. Folsom Lake covers 11,550 acres (4,670 ha) and is located inside the Folsom Lake State Recreational Area. Eight additional earth fill saddle dams are required to keep the reservoir from overflowing. The dam also generates 200 MW from three generators. About 7 mi (11 km) downstream of Folsom Dam is the Nimbus Dam, forming Lake Natoma. The dam generates 7.7 MW from two Kaplan turbines on the north side of the river. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is located downstream of Nimbus Dam, to compensate for the two dams' destruction of American River spawning grounds.
The Sly Park Unit includes Sly Park Dam, Jenkinson Lake, the Camp Creek Diversion Dam, and two diversion tunnels. The Sly Park Dam and its similarly-sized auxiliary dam form Jenkinson Lake, which covers 650 acres (260 ha). Jenkinson Lake feeds the Camino Conduit, a 5 mi (8.0 km) aqueduct. The Camp Creek Diversion Dam diverts some water from Camp Creek into Jenkinson Lake.
The third unit is the Auburn-Folsom South Unit, consisting of several dams on American River tributaries. These include Sugar Pine Dam and Pipeline (supplying water to Foresthill), and the uncompleted Folsom South Canal. The primary component of the unit, concrete thin-arch Auburn Dam, was to be located on the North Fork of the American, but was never built because of the significant risk of earthquakes in the area, and general public opposition to the project. However, the high Foresthill Bridge, built as part of the preliminary work for Auburn Dam, still stands. County Line Dam, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Folsom Dam, was also never built.
Central Valley Project