Kern River Archives - Page 2 of 14

Repairs to Isabella Dam power plant completed; Kern River flows to ramp back up

January 7, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Repairs to a damaged tunnel inside the power plant at the base of Isabella Dam were completed Saturday, just seven days after the project began, according to an attorney for Water Audit California, a public interest group suing to keep water in the Kern River. Releases from the dam had been reduced to about 100…

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Isabella power plant operators have a plan to make repairs without drying up Kern River

December 29, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Engineers with Isabella Partners, which operates the power plant at the base of Isabella Dam, believe they’ve found a way to make repairs to the plant without drying up the lower Kern River for weeks on end. If successful, water levels will drop from where they are now, but the river won’t go totally dry….

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Judge limits Bakersfield’s take of Kern River water and orders all sides to the drawing board over fish flows

December 28, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp issued a modified injunction on Kern River flows Wednesday that curbs the City of Bakersfield’s take and orders all rights holders to consult on how much water is needed for fish. On Nov. 14, Pulskamp had ordered 40% of the river’s flows be kept in the stream bed…

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Historic fish flow ruling on the Kern River wasn’t intended to expand Bakersfield’s water rights, according to judge

December 21, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp made one thing clear during the latest hearing on the twists and turns of the Kern River’s flow: He did not intend to expand the City of Bakersfield’s water rights under his November ruling that mandated enough water must remain in the river channel for fish populations. That…

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Army Corps approves cuts to Isabella Dam releases as groups look for ways to protect Kern River fish flows and legal maneuvers expand

December 19, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The Army Corps of Engineers approved a request by operators of the power plant at the base of the dam to drastically cut water releases between Dec. 18 and Jan. 7 for a planned repair project to the plant. Under the approval, releases would drop from between 500 and 700 cubic feet per second down…

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Isabella power plant repairs postponed to protect Kern River fish flows – for now

December 15, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Work on a power plant at the base of Isabella Dam has been postponed while plant owners and several public interest groups look for a solution to keep enough water in the Kern River to protect fish. “We are not proceeding on the 18th and are working to find a solution that works for everyone,”…

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Isabella Dam power plant repairs could cut Kern River flows causing a “massive fish kill”

December 4, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Anticipated repairs to the power plant at the base of Isabella Dam could cause a “massive fish kill” along the length of the Kern River as flows would have to be cut to almost nothing for weeks. Isabella Partners, which operates that power plant, submitted a request to the Army Corps of Engineers to cut…

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Kern River battles continue as ag districts accuse Bakersfield of pulling off a historic “water heist”

November 21, 2023

• by Lois Henry

If anyone thought a recent court order mandating 40% of the Kern River’s flow remain in the river for fish was the end of the story, think again. Agricultural water districts are striking back. Not at the fish. But at what they say is an historic water heist by the City of Bakersfield. On Tuesday,…

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Fish to receive 40% of Kern River flow under judge’s order

November 14, 2023

• by Lois Henry

A judge’s order signed Tuesday ensures there will be at least some water flowing in the Kern River through Bakersfield in perpetuity. Unless, of course, it’s overturned. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp signed an order that requires 40% of the Kern River’s flow to remain in the river to keep fish populations healthy….

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Former Kern River Watermaster recognized for his leadership and legacy in Kern County water

November 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The usually unflappable Mark Mulkay found himself at a rare loss for words as he accepted both the Water Leader and Water Legacy awards from his peers at the annual Water Association of Kern County dinner held Nov. 8. The recently retired Kern River Watermaster had to take a moment before addressing the audience, made…

NEWS

Repairs to Isabella Dam power plant completed; Kern River flows to ramp back up

Isabella power plant operators have a plan to make repairs without drying up Kern River

Judge limits Bakersfield’s take of Kern River water and orders all sides to the drawing board over fish flows

Historic fish flow ruling on the Kern River wasn’t intended to expand Bakersfield’s water rights, according to judge

Army Corps approves cuts to Isabella Dam releases as groups look for ways to protect Kern River fish flows and legal maneuvers expand

Isabella power plant repairs postponed to protect Kern River fish flows – for now

Isabella Dam power plant repairs could cut Kern River flows causing a “massive fish kill”

Kern River battles continue as ag districts accuse Bakersfield of pulling off a historic “water heist”

Fish to receive 40% of Kern River flow under judge’s order

Former Kern River Watermaster recognized for his leadership and legacy in Kern County water

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