Your post makes it sound like the water was released to build swimming pools....not the case.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/9961342p-10882997c.html
"Folsom Lake is a workhorse," he said, often tapped to help water-quality standards in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as well as farms and cities that draw water from the Delta.
Three months ago, federal authorities released about 100,000 acre feet of water from Folsom Dam - enough for 200,000 households - to reduce salinity levels in the estuary. Dam operators also released water to open flood-storage space in the reservoir, an insurance policy in case Sacramento got hit by a late-season storm.
>>>Water for crops is being shorted, also, so food production is taking a hit so that So Cal homes can have pools. And before you flame me, I lived there for 29 years, and I never understood the overwhelming need for everyone to have a pool when they were used VERY LITTLE.
Update from our local news right now (for whatever it's worth!):
Temecula "sage" fire has 500 homes evacuated currently
Foothill fire evacuated a nature center and ____ homes in ___ (couldn't keep it) (Newhall)...they said it so fast I didn't catch all the details on it.
Residents in Angeles home (Lake Hughes) had been evacuated since Monday...full containment expected by Friday