Kern Water Archives

Kern subbasin’s third try at groundwater plan fails to avert state enforcement action

July 25, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Noting that Kern County residents could suffer “urgent impacts” to their drinking water from continued agricultural groundwater overpumping, staff at the state Water Resources Control Board announced Thursday they are recommending the entire Kern subbasin be put on probation. Probation is the first step toward a possible state pumping take over. A hearing before the…

Rivers

VIDEO: How the lower Kern River is divvied up

October 23, 2022

• 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…

Rivers

Battle for Kern River water goes deep into rights, history

December 10, 2021

• 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…

Rivers

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

May 7, 2021

• 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…

Rivers

Longtime Kern water manager retires

April 14, 2021

• 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…

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…

Personalities • State System

New leaders named to Kern water districts

March 23, 2021

• 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….

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…

Rivers

Dry Kern River gets conceptual “flow”

February 11, 2021

• 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…

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 subbasin’s third try at groundwater plan fails to avert state enforcement action

VIDEO: How the lower Kern River is divvied up

Battle for Kern River water goes deep into rights, history

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

Longtime Kern water manager retires

State will hear Kern River water rights case

New leaders named to Kern water districts

New director appointed to Kern County Water Agency

Dry Kern River gets conceptual “flow”

Kern County Water Agency Director Bruce Hafenfeld dies at 73

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