OVER THE BOW: FOLSOM LAKE

It's a long way to the lake even after you enter the park. Following the bumpy dirt trail is a Mars rover experience as I made my way slowly down to the water. There is no vegetation to speak of, only rusty-colored sand, rocks, dried silt. I follow the tire tracks of the other land rovers, hoping they lead me to the water. Glancing down at my GPS monitor, I have to chuckle when seeing the dot that represents me, and my truck laden with kayaks is deep into the blue with what should be Folsom Reservoir.
However, there is water in view. In the haze of wildfire smoke, the lake was a grey and narrow band of water reaching northeast toward Auburn. A skeleton of it is what it usually is this time of the year. When on the water, the lake is void of the usual landmarks.
This year is the second driest year on record since 1977 and northern California man-made reservoirs like Folsom Lake SRA are at their lowest.

Climate change surrounds us with irregular seasons and rising sea levels. From the devastating melting occurring at the Arctic Ocean’s ice sheets to the destructive flooding wreaking havoc in the south and Europe. And of course, the droughts and wildfires are affecting the western part of the United States.

Climate activist Aneesa Khan reminded us that it’s very much in the here and now," when she said,
“Climate change isn't something in the future. That narrative is fundamentally flawed because there are millions impacted and so many displaced already. That is the new inconvenient truth that no one wants to hear.”

Over the Bow is a feature from Outside Adventure to the Max, telling the story behind the image. If you have a great picture with a great story, submit it to us at nickayak@gmail.com

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