English | Español

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Instagram
Login
Donate

NEWS

VIDEO: How the lower Kern River is divvied up

• by Lois Henry
Flows on the lower Kern River are split up among a hydra of canals starting just west of Hart Park. We talk with local experts who explain who owns those canals and where the water goes under the Law of the River. There’s a lot to learn so we’re splitting the lower Kern into two…
Read More

Battle for Kern River water goes deep into rights, history

• by Lois Henry
The state hearing on whether there is “loose” water on the Kern River got started Thursday and was quickly snared in a thicket of procedural issues, arcane water rights and water diversion practices. After two very full days of testimony and legal wrangling, the upshot is that there is no upshot, just yet. Administrative Hearing…
Read More

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern
Bakersfield raised a brew, literally, to the State Water Resources Control Board on Friday in honor of the Kern River. An iced down package of seven locally made craft beers was delivered to board members as part of the latest outreach effort by Bring Back the Kern, a local group advocating for water to flow…
Read More

Longtime Kern water manager retires

• by Lois Henry
Dana Munn, a fixture in the Kern County water world, has taken an early retirement from Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District due to medical issues, he announced Tuesday. Though his retirement date hasn’t been set, it is considered imminent, according to the irrigation district. The district is hoping to find a retired water manager to take over…
Read More

State will hear Kern River water rights case

• 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…
Read More
•

New leaders named to Kern water districts

• by Lois Henry
The personnel deck of who’s who in Kern County water has shuffled recently at several agricultural water districts. The Rosedale-Rio Bravo and North Kern water storage districts both recently named new general managers. And the newly formed Westside Water Authority, made up of four different ag water districts, also brought on a new general manager….
Read More
•

New director appointed to Kern County Water Agency

• 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…
Read More

Dry Kern River gets conceptual “flow”

• by Lois Henry
Earthscape artist Andres Amador installed a conceptualized flow in the dry Kern River bed Thursday. It was a joint project with Bring Back the Kern, a citizens group hoping to bring attention to the dry riverbed in order to get water flowing through Bakersfield  on a more regular basis. Bring Back the Kern shared several…
Read More

Kern County Water Agency Director Bruce Hafenfeld dies at 73

• 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…
Read More

PRESS RELEASE: Artist envisions flowing Kern River with coming exhibit

• by Lois Henry
Date: Feb. 9, 2021 From: Bring Back the Kern. Andres Amador, an artist well known for large scale, temporary art installations across the US and the world, is coming to Bakersfield this week to create an installation on the canvas of the dry Kern Riverbed. Titled “Flow,” the installation is meant to evoke the smooth…
Read More
Sponsored

Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter & Get Email Notifications

Enter your email address to receive INSTANT ALERTS of new articles and to be added to SJV Water’s WEEKLY NEWSLETTER