2012 was an excellent year for FOLFAN, and we are excited to share some of our successes with our “fans!”  Our membership is growing, our support for State Parks is strong, and good things are happening that are moving our mission forward – to expand education and recreation opportunities, and protect the natural and cultural resources of Lakes Folsom and Natoma. 

The Electricity Fair was held at the historic Folsom Powerhouse near the Rainbow Bridge.  The Powerhouse is one of the world’s oldest hydroelectric facilities and certainly one of California’s most important historical sites.  On the morning of July 13, 1895, electricity was delivered from Folsom to Sacramento, thereby altering the history of California forever.  The Visitor Center displays were designed to provide an overview of that historic event, and of the site itself, including interactive exhibits that explain electricity and magnetism science, California water use, and the future of California’s energy. FOLFAN provided Electricity Fair visitors with information about our organization and scooped ice cream donated by Leatherby’s Family Creamery for Fair visitors.

The Great American River Clean-Up, which is the American River Parkway Foundations’ (ARPF) version of California Coastal Clean-Up Day, took place on Saturday, September 15^th.  This local activity is actually part of a larger international event sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy, who share with us a vision of trash free seas.  ARPF hosts clean-up sites up and down the American River and Lake Natoma, and FOLFAN sponsored a site at Willow Creek.  Approximately 60 volunteers joined us to clean up trails and shoreline around Lake Natoma.  After a morning of very hard work, particularly for the young men who cleaned up the illegal dump site, the FOLFAN Board of Directors prepared a barbecue lunch to thank all of the folks who helped make this event a huge success.  We were delighted with the day’s accomplishments, and pleased that so many folks were thinking globally and acting locally. 

  
Linda McDonald
FOLFAN President
e-mail: President@FOLFAN.org