Bewick's wren, song sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet are frequently seen. It contains much open land and has woodland and streamside settings. Sulphur Creek flows through the Arboretum and enters the Sacramento River there. Species seen here include tree swallow, spotted towhee, California towhee, mourning dove, American kestrel, northern flicker, and black phoebe. Kutras Lake is across Park Marina Drive from the intersection of South Street.
Public parking is available on the shore of the lake.
Rarities, such as pacific loon, and other birds not easily seen in Redding, such as horned and Clark's grebes, can sometimes be found at Kutras Lake. A pacific loon spent the winter there in 2000-2001. It is also a good place for gull watchers. Ducks, including Barrow's goldeneye, common goldeneye, lesser and greater scaup, common merganser, and bufflehead are to be expected. Hooded merganser is sometimes seen in the small pond to the left of the parking area.