Kern River Archives - Page 9 of 15

Late summer rains brought little – but not much – drought relief to San Joaquin Valley watersheds

August 24, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting trainee

Monsoonal rains in early August offered a brief moment of relief to some San Joaquin Valley watersheds. But the dousing of rain did not make a dent in the ongoing drought, according to water managers. “It helped a couple of the Kern River interests with flow that they weren’t anticipating,” said Mark Mulkay, Kern River…

The Law of the River

VIDEO: Where does the water go? How the Kern River is divvied up

August 11, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Where does the water go? The Kern River’s abrupt stop, practically mid-channel, can be jarring. The full river suddenly goes dry just outside Bakersfield leaving a dusty channel snaking through the heart of town. Why? Where does all that water go? Who owns it? How does it all work? Our video project, “Law of the…

Rivers

Effort to bring South Fork Kern River water to valley farmland buffeted by lawsuits, called a “joke”

August 3, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Drought cut short a pilot program to bring South Fork Kern River water through Lake Isabella and down 60 miles to farmland northwest of Bakersfield. Now, a raft of lawsuits could upend the environmental impact report in support of the project, which has been a goal of the Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District since it…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Utility stops flows to closed hatchery but keeps some North Fork Kern water for itself

July 28, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Southern California Edison has stopped taking water out of the North Fork of the Kern River for a state fish hatchery that has been closed for nearly two years but added a new diversion that river advocates are calling a “dangerous precedent.” The move comes several weeks after river advocates complained the utility was using…

Drought • Rivers

Kern River advocates accuse utility of “lawless” water diversions on behalf of a long closed fish hatchery

July 20, 2022

• by Lois Henry

As water in the North Fork of the Kern River dwindles, controversy over its diminished flows is ramping up. At least some river watchers are accusing Southern California Edison of misusing a portion of the flows by continuing to divert water, ostensibly, for a state-owned fish hatchery that has been closed since 2020. The state…

Drought

Water deal to keep taps flowing in Bakersfield even as Lake Isabella levels continue to drop

June 29, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Bakersfield City water managers learned from California’s last “epic” drought – don’t wait to make a deal. In 2015, city water managers scrambled to keep taps flowing for more than 20,000 Bakersfield residents as the Kern River ran so low the city had zero water entitlement coming down the river. The river is the only…

Rivers

After 100 years, local groups say it’s time for Edison to let loose of flows on the North Fork of the Kern River

June 3, 2022

• by Lois Henry

It’s been more than 100 years since a 16-mile stretch of the North Fork of the Kern River has run full and free in its natural course. Local boaters, anglers and other river enthusiasts say that’s long enough. To that end, a new campaign called “Free the Kern” opposes the relicensing application for a Southern…

Personalities

Services for Chuck Williams to be held June 2 in Bakersfield

June 1, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Obituary originally published in The Bakersfield Californian, June 1, 2022. CHARLES R. H. WILLIAMS 1928 – 2022 Charles Williams (Chuck) peacefully passed away on May 6, 2022, at the age of 93, at his home in SW Bakersfield. He lived a long and full life. He was born on December 23, 1928, in Istanbul (then…

Personalities • Rivers

Chuck Williams, longest-serving Kern River Watermaster, dies at 93

May 6, 2022

• by Lois Henry, SJV Water

Chuck Williams, the longest serving “interim, acting” Kern River Watermaster, died Friday. He was 93. Attorney Scott Kuney, who worked with Williams at North Kern Water Storage District, remembered Williams as a “man of great faith, integrity and a consensus maker. “And he was fun,” Kuney said Friday. “He had a thousand stories.” Kuney recalled…

Drought

Kern River run off predicted to be downright miserly

May 3, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Kern River watershed watcher Scott Williams put out what will be his final Kern River Snow and Water Report May 3 and the news was grim. The predicted run off for the Kern River has dwindled from an already meager 33% of normal last month to a downright miserly 28% of normal this month. The…

NEWS

Late summer rains brought little – but not much – drought relief to San Joaquin Valley watersheds

VIDEO: Where does the water go? How the Kern River is divvied up

Effort to bring South Fork Kern River water to valley farmland buffeted by lawsuits, called a “joke”

Utility stops flows to closed hatchery but keeps some North Fork Kern water for itself

Kern River advocates accuse utility of “lawless” water diversions on behalf of a long closed fish hatchery

Water deal to keep taps flowing in Bakersfield even as Lake Isabella levels continue to drop

After 100 years, local groups say it’s time for Edison to let loose of flows on the North Fork of the Kern River

Services for Chuck Williams to be held June 2 in Bakersfield

Chuck Williams, longest-serving Kern River Watermaster, dies at 93

Kern River run off predicted to be downright miserly

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