Lake Clementine
Encyclopedia
Lake Clementine is a man made lake at an elevation of 700' on the North Fork American River
Canyon below the picturesque gold rush era town of Auburn
(elev. 1200') in northern California
. It was created in 1939 when North Fork Dam, a 150' debris dam, was completed by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of containing gold mining debris washing downriver. It is open to boat traffic, a waterskiing and wakeboarding
spot during the summer. However, many days the lake is closed to wakeboarding so that the lake may be quietly enjoyed for kayaks, rowing, and fishing. It features steep forested canyon walls and contains several large high quality limestone
deposits, one large vertical outcropping of which is known as Robbers Roost, and offers climbing
and caving
opportunities for the adventurous. A popular hiking, running, and mountain biking trail courses from the dam area, continues downstream below the 780' high Foresthill Bridge, linking Lake Clementine to the North and Middle Forks American River Confluence area below the dam. The trail also connects to a large-network hiking, running, and mountain biking trail system stretching eastward into the Sierra Nevada mountain range near Lake Tahoe. Because the dam is designed so that the river flows over its top, a waterfall is created that grows impressively large in winter and spring when rain and snowmelt cause high river flows.
North Fork American River
The North Fork American River is the longest branch of the American River in Northern California. It is long from its source at the crest of the Sierra Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, to its mouth at Folsom Lake northeast of Sacramento...
Canyon below the picturesque gold rush era town of Auburn
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
(elev. 1200') in northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. It was created in 1939 when North Fork Dam, a 150' debris dam, was completed by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of containing gold mining debris washing downriver. It is open to boat traffic, a waterskiing and wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
spot during the summer. However, many days the lake is closed to wakeboarding so that the lake may be quietly enjoyed for kayaks, rowing, and fishing. It features steep forested canyon walls and contains several large high quality limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
deposits, one large vertical outcropping of which is known as Robbers Roost, and offers climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
and caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
opportunities for the adventurous. A popular hiking, running, and mountain biking trail courses from the dam area, continues downstream below the 780' high Foresthill Bridge, linking Lake Clementine to the North and Middle Forks American River Confluence area below the dam. The trail also connects to a large-network hiking, running, and mountain biking trail system stretching eastward into the Sierra Nevada mountain range near Lake Tahoe. Because the dam is designed so that the river flows over its top, a waterfall is created that grows impressively large in winter and spring when rain and snowmelt cause high river flows.