What's New
Water Education Center Relocates
The main American River Water Education Center
building at its new location with new landscaping
installed.
Central California Area Office's (CCAO) American River Water Education Center (also known as ARWEC) has relocated closer to Folsom-Auburn Road on what will be the CCAO entrance road.
ARWEC has re-opened after being closed for nearly 5 months so that contractors could move its buildings to make way for piers that will support the new Folsom Dam Bridge that's now under construction.
Schools have been waiting patiently and are now lining up to get in for a visit. Visits to the ARWEC and an off-site program about Folsom Dam are already reserved through Thanksgiving.
Because of the construction and security issues at Folsom Dam, tours to the dam are no longer offered. This, however, has not significantly slowed the popu-larity of ARWEC visits. An off-site program at Beals Point has replaced a visit to the dam. Here, partici-pants can view the dam at a distance while they see the reservoir and enjoy a presentation by Reclamation staff.
ARWEC's new location is adjacent to the bicycle trail. This attracts new visitors who stop by for a relaxing moment at the picnic tables or a stroll through the grounds and Education Center.
In addition, the new location has beautifully land-scaped gardens that offer visitors the opportunity to see drought resistant plantings. There is a native Cali-fornia plant area, a butterfly garden, picnic grounds, an amphitheater, and even a small lawn area for active play.
There is still much to be done. The trails will have interpretive signs along the “power path” and the “water walk.” Plants will be identified so people can easily learn which plants and irrigation systems are the best “water conservers” for their yards.
The displays inside ARWEC have also been updated and are worth a visit to learn about our water and how to conserve it.
Starting October 20, 2007, ARWEC has been open Saturdays. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630.
Directions from Interstate 80: From Sacramento, take I-80 east toward Reno. Exit onto Madison Ave. east. After several miles, Madison turns into Greenback Lane. Turn left onto Folsom-Auburn Rd., then right onto Folsom Dam Rd.
Directions from Highway 50: From Sacramento, take U.S. 50 east toward Lake Tahoe. Exit and turn left onto Folsom Blvd. After crossing over Lake Natoma, Folsom Blvd. turns into Folsom-Auburn Rd. Turn right onto Folsom Dam Rd.
