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WEBVTT IT BECAME A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE UNAWARE OF THOSE RISING LEVELS. A RARE SOUND AT NIMBUS DAM, AS HIGH VOLUMES OF WATER RUSH INTO THE AMERICAN RIVER. WHILE WILDLIFE ADJUST TO T CHANGE IN SCENERY -- >> HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGH, YOU THINK? I'D SAY 12 POUNDS, MAYBE. VICKI: FISHERMEN LIKE KEAT ENGSTROM NOTICE THE CHANGING CONDITIONS. >> SO WHEN I FIRST GOT HER AT ABOUT 9:00, THEY ONLY HAD TWO GATES OPEN, AND THEN IN A MATTER OF A HALF-HOUR, THERE WERE FIVE GATES OPEN, SO THE WATER LEVEL ROSE REALLY QUICKLY. VICKI: BUREAU OF RECLAMATION DOUBLED THE OUTFLOW VOLUME TUESDAY FOR FLOOD CONTROL, MAKING A ONCE SHALLOW PATH TO AN NEARBY ISLAND DANGEROUS FOR A GROUP OF FISHERMEN. >> THE GUYS ON THE ISLAND DIDN'T REALIZE THE WATER WAS RISING SO FAST, AND THEY ENDED UP GETTING STUCK OUT THERE. VICKI: METRO FIRE RESCUED THE MEN, TRYING TO WADE BACK TO SHORE UNSUCCESSFULLY. WAS ABOUT CHEST-HIGH IN WATER, AND THE WATER LEVELS HAD ALREADY INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, CURRENT'S A WHOLE LOT STRONGER. THE PERSON WAS TRYING TO GET BACK ACROSS, BUT IT WAS GOING TO PUT HIM IN A SPOT WHERE THERE WAS NO WAY HE WOULD HAVE MADE IT. VICK THE CLOSE CALL IS NOW A CAUTIONARY TALE, WITH THE EXPECTATION WATER LEVELS ALO THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE TO RISE THIS WEEK. >> THEY ARE GOING TO INCREASE. THEY ARE GOING TO INCREASE NOT JUST AT THE BASE OF THE DAM, BUT ALL THE WAY ALONG THE RIVER. ANYBODY THAT'S STAYING AT THEIR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, IF WE HA PEOPLE FISHING, BE AWARE,

Advertisement Folsom Lake releases contribute to rising American River Fishermen became stranded due to rising water Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Water releases out of Folsom Lake were doubled Tuesday morning after weekend rains increased the inflows into the lake, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. The outflows via Folsom Dam were increased from 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 6,000 cfs, with the flows expected to sprawl downstream into the low-lying areas, as opposed to the American River rising, the bureau said. The initial plan was to increase the outflow by up to 8,000 cfs by Thursday, but it may increase to as high at 15,000 cfs. What you need to know about Folsom Lake water releases However, flows also increased out of Nimbus Dam on Tuesday, leaving several fisherman stranded downstream when they could not get out of the river in time. All were rescued safely by Metro Fire crews, officials said. Folsom Lake outflow doubled today, as a result fisherman at Nimbus were stranded on an American River island due to rising water @kcranews pic.twitter.com/K70GeRYM19— Vicki Gonzalez (@KCRAVicki) December 13, 2016 "Four fishermen went across the river to the island when the waters were low this morning,” Metro Fire Capt. Michelle Eidam said. “One of the men was trying to come across, trying to wade back to shore, was about chest high in water. The person was trying to get back across, but it was going to put him in a spot where there was no way he would have made it.” The effects of the weekend rain have wrapped up since it takes a couple days for the water to go from the mountains to Folsom Lake. The inflow was 30,000 cfs after the rain, but has already dropped to 12,000 cfs, according to the bureau. However, officials anticipate inflows to increase with the next system scheduled to move in Tuesday night and bring lots of rain especially on Thursday. Inflows could be greater than 30,000 cfs. “They are going to increase not just at the base of the dam, but all the way along the river,” Eidam said. "Anybody that’s staying at their homeless encampments, if we have people fishing, be aware because what’s an island right now, an hour from now may be under water. People are going to find themselves stranded in a very bad spot.” 00:00 01:41