YouTuber Mark Rober and Sacramento’s marine enforcement dive into Folsom Lake, uncovering sunken bridges, planes, and the lost town of Mormon Island.
FOLSOM, Calif. — Beneath the calm surface of Folsom Lake lies a hidden world: sunken bridges, lost airplanes and the remnants of towns long submerged.
Boaters drove across the water, families lounged on the shore and kayakers paddled past the familiar bridge, but beneath the surface, an odd adventure was unfolding, one that brought together Sacramento’s Marine Enforcement Team and the world-famous YouTuber Mark Rober.
For three days, Rober brought his submarine and camera crew to explore Folsom Lake for his latest episode on his channel, “Uncovering America’s Underwater City,” with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Marine Enforcement team on hand to provide safety and support.
In his YouTube episode “Uncovering America’s Underwater City,” Rober takes viewers on a deep dive below the surface of Folsom Lake to look at what lies below the surface.
Using a custom-built submarine and sonar technology, Rober and his team scanned the lakebeds in search of structures, boats and other California history that has been long-submerged.
During the search, Rober found the foundations of the ‘lost city,’ but because of a massive fire that ripped through the entire town, it made it harder to locate. Other discoveries like old boats, a plane lying on the lake floor from a plane crash and the remains of a bridge were buried under sediment.
The video also highlighted the challenges of diving, even with a submarine, in Folsom Lake. The water was murky, equipment adjustment issues and the sheer size of Folsom Lake meant that visual confirmation of objects was often tricky.
“It started when the Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Folsom Dam, reached out to the sheriff’s office,” said Sergeant Sanders. “They were contacted by Mark Rober’s team asking for security on the water. Given the complexity and potential risks, it made sense for our marine detail to assist.”
Sergeant Samuel Flores added that the project was an exciting opportunity for the team to collaborate with Rober’s team to find some discoveries.
“When I first heard there was a submarine coming to Folsom Lake, I thought it was pretty cool, and then I heard it was Mark Rober, so I had to look him up,” said Sergeant Flores. “I talked to my kids and they were like ‘oh my gosh, he’s coming into town’ so I looked him up and he has 72 million subscribers.”
The team worked closely with state park officials and Rober’s crew to manage the lake during filming.
“Our job was mostly traffic control,” says Deputy Michael Nofziger. “That area is high-traffic for boats, jet skis and swimmers. We kept people clear so they could safely launch and maneuver the submarine.”
The operation was no small feat. The submarine, shipped from the East Coast, required hours of setup and adjustments onshore before it could be deployed onto the lake.
“They kept having little issues with it, so we were on standby for two to three hours before it even went in the water,” says Sergeant Flores. “The production crew had motorhomes, tents, cameras; it looked like a little city on the beach.”
Although Rober had his own team of specialized rescue divers ready for emergencies, the marine detail remained prepared for anything.
“If there had been a problem with the submarine, we were ready, but fortunately, their crew was very professional and prepared,” said Sergeant Sanders.
Beyond the excitement of the high-tech equipment, the team was struck by the history hidden beneath Folsom Lake’s surface, not knowing what you will experience during the day.
“Sacramento’s river and waterways are full of surprises, sunken cars, boats, even airplanes,” Sergeant Sanders said. “Folsom Lake also covers the old town of Mormon Island. You never really know what’s down there until someone goes looking.”
Flores also said the project boosted the team’s visibility throughout social media after the YouTube video was released on Mark Rober’s page.
“Our Instagram page for the boat detail had around 1,000 followers before this. After tagging Mark Rober, our following nearly doubled. It’s amazing the kind of attention this brought to our work,” said Sergeant Flores.
The collaboration left a lasting impression on the marine team, as Sergeant Flores explains the professionalism and talent of Rober’s team.
“Working with Rober’s crew was like being on a movie set,” says Sergeant Flores. “They were professional, organized and incredibly nice. And of course, meeting Mark Rober himself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
For locals, it was a rare glimpse into an unusual side of Folsom Lake, where history, technology and adventure collided and where the Sacramento Sheriff’s Marine Enforcement Team kept the water safe for everyone above and below the surface.
Watch Mark Rober’s ‘Uncovering America’s Underwater City’ Episode
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