bakersfield Archives - Page 2 of 3

Judge orders Bakersfield to keep water in the Kern River

October 30, 2023

• by Lois Henry

In what one attorney called a “moment of truth” for the City of Bakersfield, a judge ordered the city to keep enough water in the normally dry Kern River to protect fish populations. The 21-page preliminary injunction was issued by Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp Monday afternoon. Colin Pearce, who represents the city…

Uncategorized

Kern River interests allowed to squeeze a little extra water into Lake Isabella this winter

October 18, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Kern River irrigators will be able to store more water than usual in Lake Isabella this winter, but not as much as they’d like. Typically, the “carry over” amount is 170,000 acre feet to allow enough room in the lake to handle a heavy winter. Isabella can hold 568,000 acre feet at full capacity. Agricultural…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Court to consider cutting water diversions out of Kern River

October 3, 2023

• by Lois Henry

A preliminary injunction that could cut water being taken out of the Kern River if those diversions are harmful to fish will be taken up Friday, October 13 in a Kern County courtroom. The request for the injunction was filed in August by a group of entities suing the City of Bakersfield for what it…

Personalities • Uncategorized

Bakersfield hires former assistant director of Water Resources Department to lead the department

September 28, 2023

• by SJV Water

BAKERSFIELD CITY PRESS RELEASE Following a nationwide recruitment effort, the City of Bakersfield is pleased to announce that Kristina Budak has been hired to lead the City’s Water Resources Department, effective Oct. 2, 2023. Budak’s hiring marks a return to the City of Bakersfield after spending nearly two years serving as the Engineering and Groundwater Services…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Kern River: “Best kept secret” demystified through technology

September 22, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

There’s a new way to explore the Kern River and it can all be done from the comfort of your own home. The nonprofit Kern River Parkway Foundation has sponsored a visual mapping of the Kern River. Volunteers set out along the river on the parkway’s bike path and down some of the river in…

Floods

Kern River flows ramping down thanks to cool weather but will remain strong through the fall

June 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Cooler weather has slowed the anticipated snowmelt above Lake Isabella enough that outflows from the dam will ramp down to 6,500 cubic feet per second starting Sunday, according to Kern River Water Master Mark Mulkay. “We’ve been watching the snow surveys and weather up there and think we’re in really good shape to be able…

Floods

Officials identify local infrastructure at risk of flooding in Bakersfield

May 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry, SJV Water and John Cox, The Bakersfield Californian

Senior Kern County officials assessing flood risks to critical local infrastructure have identified Bakersfield Heart Hospital as potentially vulnerable to inundation in the weeks ahead, followed to a lesser degree by Mercy Southwest and the former Big West refinery on Rosedale Highway. In case either medical center does flood, a plan has been put in place…

Drought • Uncategorized

Kern River watershed “Lookin’ good!”

March 1, 2023

• by SJV Water

Water watcher Scott Williams, who issues a Kern River Snow and Water Report every month, was practically giddy in his March 1 email stating: “Lookin’ good!” for this month’s report. The report compiles water and snow statistics from a variety of public sources. The upshot is the Kern River is forecast at 190% of average….

Rivers

Bakersfield sued over “dewatering” of Kern River

November 30, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Several public interest groups sued the City of Bakersfield Nov. 30 alleging the city has been derelict in its operation of the Kern River by diverting most of its flows to agriculture and other uses leaving a dry riverbed through the heart of town. “The river is dry, but not because of a lack of…

Rivers

Bakersfield has been derelict toward the public on the Kern River, group alleges

September 21, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Several public interest groups have issued a direct challenge to Bakersfield over the Kern River alleging the city has not lived up to its responsibilities to address the public trust. Water Audit California, an advocacy group based in Napa, sent a letter to the Bakersfield Water Resources Department July 27 demanding the city conduct a…

NEWS

Judge orders Bakersfield to keep water in the Kern River

Kern River interests allowed to squeeze a little extra water into Lake Isabella this winter

Court to consider cutting water diversions out of Kern River

Bakersfield hires former assistant director of Water Resources Department to lead the department

Kern River: “Best kept secret” demystified through technology

Kern River flows ramping down thanks to cool weather but will remain strong through the fall

Officials identify local infrastructure at risk of flooding in Bakersfield

Kern River watershed “Lookin’ good!”

Bakersfield sued over “dewatering” of Kern River

Bakersfield has been derelict toward the public on the Kern River, group alleges

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