kern county water agency Archives

Rivers

Kern River “restoration” wells pumping but not to restore the river

December 28, 2022

• by Lois Henry

An observant reader emailed SJV Water recently asking about a well he noticed near Calloway Drive that was pumping water into the brimful Cross Valley Canal just north of the dry Kern River “all summer long and beyond.” He wondered if that was a well owned by the City of Bakersfield and, if so, where…

Personalities

“Drop out” from race for seat on a powerful Kern water board appears poised to win

November 11, 2022

• by Lois Henry

If challenger Eric Averett maintains his lead over incumbent Phil Cerro for a seat on the powerful Kern County Water Agency board, it may prove just how effective a campaign statement can be. Averett said he tried to withdraw his name from the ballot after belatedly learning Cerro would run. But he missed the deadline…

Personalities

Challenger for seat on powerful Kern water board “withdraws,” at least in spirit

September 12, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Would-be challenger Eric Averett said he is “withdrawing” from the race for a seat on the powerful Kern County Water Agency board of directors. His name will still appear on the ballot, however. Averett said he couldn’t get his name off the ballot as the deadline to do so had already passed when he decided…

Drinking Water

Some rural California residents doubt they’ll ever get clean water

May 5, 2021

• by Claudia Boyd-Barrett

EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece is part of a collaboration that includes the Institute for Nonprofit News, California Health Report, Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, Circle of Blue, Columbia Insight, Ensia, High Country News, New Mexico In Depth and SJV Water. It was made possible by a grant from The Water Desk, with support from Ensia…

Conservation • Drought • Federal System • Rivers • State System • Water Banking

Virtual Water Summit – May 25

April 20, 2021

• by Lois Henry

The Water Association of Kern County’s annual Water Summit is virtual this year but will still pack a punch of who’s who in the water world. The day kicks off with an update on water brought to the San Joaquin Valley via the federal Central Valley Project. The speaker will be Deputy Bureau of Reclamation…

Rivers

State will hear Kern River water rights case

April 2, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Is there water available on the Kern River and, if so, how much? Parties to the long-running river dispute will finally get a hearing by the State Water Resources Control Board on those questions, at least. The big question — who should get the water? — will have to wait. Still, this is the first…

Conservation • Drinking Water • Drought • Groundwater

Students find saving water “elementary”

March 16, 2021

• by Lois Henry

When a region’s groundwater is critically depleted and its dirt as hard as a frying pan, how do you refill the aquifer? Ask a fifth grader. Actually, ask the fifth and sixth grade combination class at Bakersfield’s Munsey Elementary School taught by Barbara Elrod. Elrod’s students discovered a pretty cool way to both conserve water…

Personalities • State System

New director appointed to Kern County Water Agency

March 15, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Longtime family farmer Laura Cattani was appointed to the board of the powerful Kern County Water Agency during a special meeting on Monday. She is the second woman to serve on the board of directors in the 60-year history of the agency. Cattani will bring much needed diversity to the board, several directors said during…

Groundwater • Rivers

Double blast of lawsuits fired at proposed Kern groundwater bank

February 12, 2021

• by Lois Henry

A major water banking proposal northwest of Bakersfield that won coveted Proposition 1 funding in 2018, was hit by two lawsuits earlier this month, one claiming it is nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing intent on selling Kern River water to southern California. The City of Bakersfield and the Kern County Water Agency…

Personalities

Kern County Water Agency Director Bruce Hafenfeld dies at 73

February 10, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Bruce Allen Hafenfeld June 12, 1947 – January 19, 2021 https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bakersfield/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-hafenfeld&pid=197637854 A LIFE WELL LIVED Bruce Allen Hafenfeld was born June 12, 1947, Orange CA. to Bernard Norman Hafenfeld and Barbara Jane Crosier. He went to be in the arms of the Lord January 19, 2021 with his family by his side after losing a…

NEWS

Kern River “restoration” wells pumping but not to restore the river

“Drop out” from race for seat on a powerful Kern water board appears poised to win

Challenger for seat on powerful Kern water board “withdraws,” at least in spirit

Some rural California residents doubt they’ll ever get clean water

Virtual Water Summit – May 25

State will hear Kern River water rights case

Students find saving water “elementary”

New director appointed to Kern County Water Agency

Double blast of lawsuits fired at proposed Kern groundwater bank

Kern County Water Agency Director Bruce Hafenfeld dies at 73

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter & Get Email Notifications