The Kern River No. 3 hydroelectric project — Southern California Edison’s diversion that bypasses 16 miles of the Wild and Scenic North Fork Kern — is up for relicensing right now. SCE has proposed minimum instream flows of just 40–130 cfs for the bypass reach. The science says the right number is 195–335 cfs. SCE offers 10 days of natural flows for recreation. Our plan offer more than 60 — and at less cost as it coincides with the solar glut. The decisions made will lock in flows for the next 50 years.
KRB has been strongly advocating for improved conditions. But formal filings only go so far. The agencies making the call need to hear from the public — and they need to hear from enough people that the decision-makers at the top can’t ignore it.
File a comment with FERC
FERC’s eComment system lets anyone file a public comment directly on the docket. No registration. Up to 10,000 characters. Two minutes.
ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx
Enter docket number P-2290 and submit.
Write to the agency decision-makers
U.S. Forest Service — Pacific Southwest Regional Forester
The Forest Service holds mandatory conditioning authority over the KR3 license under § 4(e) of the Federal Power Act — FERC must include their conditions.
Jacqueline Buchanan, Acting Regional Forester — jacqueline.buchanan@usda.gov
California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Director
CDFW is the state’s lead agency for fish and files formal § 10(j) recommendations to FERC.
Meghan Hertel, Director — meghan.hertel@wildlife.ca.gov
State Water Resources Control Board
The Water Board issues the Clean Water Act § 401 water quality certification — FERC cannot grant the license without it.
E. Joaquin Esquivel, Chair — joaquin.esquivel@waterboards.ca.gov
Eric Oppenheimer, Executive Director — eric.oppenheimer@waterboards.ca.gov
Contact your elected representatives
Elected officials apply political pressure that the agencies notice. Federal representatives use contact forms (security policy), not personal email.
Senator Alex Padilla: padilla.senate.gov/contact
Senator Adam Schiff: schiff.senate.gov/contact
Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20, our district): fong.house.gov/contact
Governor Gavin Newsom: gov.ca.gov/contact
Suggested subject line (for all agency emails)
Public Comment — Kern River No. 3 Hydroelectric Project Relicensing (FERC P-2290)
What to say
Two to four paragraphs is plenty — and the agencies notice comments that are personal and specific, not boilerplate.
• Make it personal. A few lines about your connection to the Kern — boating, fishing, hiking, family memories, a business that depends on the river — carries weight that copy-paste comments don’t.
• Be specific about what you want. “CEFF-based minimum instream flows of 195–335 cfs for the KR3 bypass reach” or “KRB’s rec proposal is smart and makes sense” beats “more water.”
Timing matters
The agencies are developing their preliminary positions now. Public comments filed in the next few months carry meaningfully more weight than those filed later, after positions harden. Don’t wait.
The Kern is one of California’s great rivers. Make your voice part of the record.
