Smile: if you’re on the upper Kern River, you’re on camera

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A unique study using more than a dozen cameras, 730,000 photos and artificial intelligence is intended to quantify recreation on a section of the North Fork of the Kern River now through November 2025.

Southern California Edison is conducting the study as part of its relicensing application for its Kern River No. 3 (KR3) power plant near Kernville. It’s current license expires in 2026. It is applying for a new 50-year license.

Several recreation advocacy groups have argued that Edison’s operations leave too little water in the river from Fairview Dam to KR3 to accommodate boating and maintain cold-water fish habitat for anglers, prompting the study.

Sixteen cameras are already in place at 15 different locations from the Johnsondale Bridge about 17 miles south to KR3 just north of Kernville. The cameras are programmed to snap photos every 5 minutes from dawn to dusk. They are expected to produce 730,000 photos through next November, according to Edison’s study plan.

The utility will use the Google Gemini Application Programming Interface (API) to create a custom artificial intelligence model to identify specific features in photographs, such as watercraft, to count and categorize river uses, according to the plan.

Though recreation advocates were largely responsible for prompting the study, they aren’t happy with what they view as Edison’s focus on rafting, as opposed to all forms of recreation, including day uses, hiking, fishing and kayaking, according to comments filed on the study by Kern River Boaters.

They base that concern on Edison’s placement of cameras at whitewater boating put-in and take-out locations, and its description of the study as collecting data on “…commercial and non-commercial boating activities on the North Fork Kern River.”

The study plan does state the cameras will be able to distinguish between large and small rafts as well as kayaks and other craft, such as paddle boards. But it also states the study “…is not a census of all recreational users on the river. In particular, there are additional dispersed recreation use areas (camp and day use sites) that provide river access that are not included in the study.”

Kern River Boaters has asked that FERC require Edison to modify the study to include those camping and day use areas, as well as other river access points, trailheads and conduct onsite surveys.

They also argue that without corresponding flow records, the photo compilations will not give an accurate picture of the power plant’s impacts on recreation on the upper Kern. If flows are too low, for example, because the plant is taking more water, boating and other activities will naturally be down as well.

Comments provided by the Forest Service and National Park Service also indicate those agencies are concerned Edison is skimping on its camera sturdy.

Both agencies have asked that all river uses be included in the study.

FERC is expected to announce Feb. 10, 2025 whether it will require Edison to modify or add to studies.