.
I know a lot of people are opposed to it and think it should be left natural, but someone reminded me that it's not a natural lake, that it was created by the dam, and its creation flooded the site of the historic Negro Bar settlement.
It is very much like it was when it was still the American River. It is still part of the American River, but with a dam on both ends. So it is natural. The vegetation is native, the bluffs, the terraces, the streams and creeks that lead into it, and nature has been reclaiming the environment for over 100 years. Some sections are exactly as they have been for centuries. It is not manicured, but I think that is what makes it even more beautiful.
And the construction of Nimbus Dam absolutely did NOT flood out the historic Negro Bar townsite.
I am like Ducky and hope that the work that is done is left as natural as possible, using all native vegetation and protecting as much habitat as possible. There are river otter that make their homes on that bank below the hotel and they are part of the grace and beauty of that incredible open space we sometimes take for granted. In my opinion, in the long run having natural open space is a greater community good that being able to bring greater numbers of people down to the waterfront. Other communities would give anything to have what we have here. I really hope we don't ruin it in the ever growing effort to "improve" things for commercial gain.