Cosumnes River - River Modifications

River Modifications

As the last undammed river flowing from the west slope of the Sierra, the Cosumnes poses a major flooding hazard to southern Sacramento County and may dry up in some years due to the lack of river regulation. Dams have been proposed to be built on the river to control flows, but these plans have largely stalled because of the river's unique free-flowing status. Sacramento County officials continue to lobby for the construction of a flood-control dry dam above Rancho Murieta, which would open much of the lower Cosumnes River valley to development. Such proposals are still the subject of ongoing debate.