SJV Water - Covering water news in the San Joaquin Valley

The "labyrinth" weir, a key part of the Isabella Dam rebuild, nears completion in this April 2022 photo. Credit: Lois Henry

Clarissa Wilstead leads her horse Athena and Sarah Ming leads Atlas to ride in the Kern River near the Coffee Road weir in this April 2022 photo. Credit: Lois Henry

The Kern River, diminished by severe drought, meanders west below the Southern California Edison power plant in the Kern River Canyon. Credit: Lois Henry

A pair of Canada geese guard their island in a recharge pond fed by the Kern River west of Bakersfield in 2019, an average water year. Credit: Lois Henry

Orange orchards spread out before the entrance to the Kern River canyon in this May 2022 photo. Credit: Lois Henry

The Kern River through Bakersfield is dry most of the time. Credit: Lois Henry

Dee Dominguez, a member of the Yokuts tribe, sits near the Kern River at Rancheria Road, west of the canyon. Credit: Lois Henry

A roadrunner takes a quick break at the City of Bakersfield's "2800 Acres" recharge pond in 2019. Credit: Lois Henry

Rope swings hang over a dry Kern River in this 2020 photo. Credit: Lois Henry

Robert Gomez, Chairman of the Tubatulabal tribe, stands near the South Fork of the Kern River east of Mountain Mesa in the Kern River Valley. Credit: Lois Henry

LAW OF THE RIVER

Donate Today

Who owns the waters of the kern?

Special Project

Support

Your donations, subscriptions, sponsorships and social media shares help support strong local coverage of this essential resource.

Featured in

Check out SJV Water’s story about a sinking town in the Central Valley that was published in the NEW YORK TIMES!

TUNE IN

Remember to tune in to KERN Newstalk 1180 am/96.1 fm every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m.

Special Projects

We’re working on bringing different special projects in the future. Our current Special Project is Law of the River. Be sure to sign up to receive notifications to stay informed about what we’ve working on.

About Law of the River

Who owns the waters of the Kern? Welcome to the new SJV Water special projects section where you’ll find news articles, information, stories and media regarding The Law of The River.

Latest Law of the River News

Rivers • The Law of the River

VIDEO: Understanding the Kern River, east to west

November 7, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Water on the Kern River works hard from start to finish. In this Law of the River video, we continue our journey down the river starting at Truxtun Avenue and Coffee Road in the heart of Bakersfield. The Kern River is mostly dry through Bakersfield as its waters are moved to farms, drinking water plants…

The Law of the River

VIDEO: The Kern River’s work starts long before it hits Bakersfield

September 29, 2022

• by Lois Henry

In our continuing series, we head upstream with Kern River Watermaster Mark Mulkay for a quick look at how some of the structures and obligations on the river above the San Joaquin Valley influence “the law of the river.” NEXT: The lower river – once the river hits the valley, it’s spliced and diced through…

The Law of the River

VIDEO: The “intertie” marks the end of the line for the Kern River but it still has an important role in the law of the river

September 20, 2022

• by Lois Henry

This is the fourth video in our series explaining how the Kern River operates, who owns it and where its waters go. In this video, we look at the “intertie,” which marks the end of the river as it meets the California Aqueduct west of Bakersfield. This highly unassuming looking piece of infrastructure was built…

Rivers • The Law of the River

VIDEO: What is 2nd Point on the Kern River?

September 7, 2022

• by Lois Henry

This is the third in a series of videos attempting to break down and explain who owns the Kern River. Structures along the river measure its flows and then divvy it up between its historic owners. So, it’s important to understand these structures, where they are and how they work. We looked at First Point…

Rivers • The Law of the River

VIDEO: First Point is a foundational structure under the Law of the River on the Kern

August 26, 2022

• by Lois Henry

The Kern River is a very highly structured river with multiple weirs, canals and points of measurement. In this video, we’ll look at what’s known as the First Point of measurement on the river, where it is, and why it’s so important to understanding how the Law of the River govern’s Kern River operations. Coming…

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…

The Law of the River

NEW: Law of the River

March 28, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Who owns the waters of the Kern? Welcome to the new SJV Water special projects section where you’ll find news articles, information, stories and media regarding The Law of The River….