Latest on the Isabella Dam Project

KRB attended the December 08, 2015 USACE meeting in Kernville regarding the Isabella Dam project.

The key issue for boaters is the Borel hydroproject. The Corps does not want to build Edison a new intake for the Borel Canal. The costs of building a new seismically sound intake are very high and Edison is not willing to bear them, averring that the Corps "owes" them a new intake with Borel preceding the existence of the reservoir. The Corps is negotiating with Edison, the Forest Service, and other relevant agencies to see whether it could pay for the decommissioning of Borel — a project that has averaged just 7.1 megawatts of production the last 30 years. KRB obviously supports the Corps' efforts: not only would removal of the Borel diversion result in more boating opportunities on the Jungle Run (aka, the BLM Run); it would also obviate the Corps' need to restrict the reservoir pool below 73,000 acre-feet in 2020-2021. KRB urges the Corps to aggressively pursue the decommissioning of Borel. 

Absent that result, the Corps' project would continue to adversely and directly impact the Summer 2021 boating season on the Lower Kern. KRB has reminded the Corps about this in its recent comments, and KRB stands prepared to pursue alternative remedies should the Corps fail to voluntarily discharge its statutory obligation to mitigate the adverse effects on recreation that accompany its projects. 

You can view KRB's most recent comments here. 

Dave on Mantequilla Falls on the Lucas Creek section of the Lower Kern

Mouth of the Canyon Gauge Now on Dreamflows

Dream flows recently acted on KRB's request to post the gauge for the mouth of Kern Canyon run.

"Even I can Boof" on the Mouth of the Canyon run

The Mouth of the Canyon this Summer?

While PG&E's Kern Canyon Project (KCP) was down for repairs between Summer 2014 and last month, Dennis Rushing, Kyle Rushing, Jeff Matheson, and other boaters popularized the 1.5 miles of bypassed reach into a run they named "The Mouth" for its proximity to the mouth of the canyon.

The put in

The put in is just below SCE's KR1 powerhouse (there's even a USFS manifest box there), and the takeout is at the KCP powerhouse at the mouth of the canyon on 178, just across from the "Kern drowning victims" sign. 

The takeout

Although this stretch had been boated infrequently before, it had always been boated at average summer release levels in the 1000+ cfs range. During the nine months KCP was down for repairs, the watermaster regularly released flows from the Isabella reservoir at levels between 150-300 cfs. Dennis and the rest of the Bakersfield gang probed the run repeatedly, dialed in the lines, and concluded it was "like a playpark for boofing" at flows above 200 cfs.  

Come the first of this year, the Bakersfield gang finally convinced the rest of us to try out the run, and it was as good as advertised. Boaters from Kernville to Orange County were making the trek to run the Mouth weekly, and the Bakersfield gang was enjoying their playground several times a week on after-work runs. 

But PG&E finally fixed their hydroproject, leaving six boaters on April 16 standing at the takeout staring at unrunnable fish flow. We were skunked.  

The Mouth might open up again this summer for a couple weeks. As a condition of its license, PG&E is obligated to annually release "freshet" flows into the river to promote the river's health. At its annual meeting with the Forest Service this year, PG&E indicated they may be able to provide freshet flows this year "for 14 days during a short window in June/July." Given the lack of snowpack, the Watermaster will probably be releasing flows in the 200-300 cfs range then. 

KRB is making inquiries of PG&E as to whether they could give us a heads up when they release these flows. 

UPDATE 11MAY15: PG&E replied to KRB and pointed us to a realtime gauge for the Mouth. We'll keep our eye on it, and hopefully the Mouth will run for a couple weeks in June/July.

Kern Canyon Project powerhouse 

Parking to be re-established at the Limestone takeout

Tricia Maki of the Forest Service informed KRB that the new "no parking" signs at Limestone takeout will be taken down today. Although some adjustments might be made to the old loading zone, there should be plenty of space for parking. We'll update this post after we check out the changes.

[March 18 UPDATE: The recently installed no parking signs have indeed been removed. USFS "adjusted" the size of the no parking zone to approximately 60% of the turnout. KRB will be monitoring whether the adjustment poses an issue to non-commercial boaters, and if you have any concerns, please let KRB know.]

Those recently installed no parking signs have been removed from their posts

After removing the two new signs which had rendered the entire turnout no parking, USFS added another new no parking sign a bit more than halfway up the turnout, leaving the balance of the turnout for parking

The Parking Situation at Limestone

As we face a fourth straight season of drought — and with Edison dewatering 600 cfs from the rest of the upper Kern — we can be certain of one thing this Spring: non-commercial boaters will be flocking to paddle the class 4- Limestone section. It's the only section on the upper Kern besides the class 2/3 Lickety that will be running.

The established Limestone takeout at Willow Point is essentially just a long dirt turnout. Historically, the southern one-third of this turnout has been marked by two signs as a no parking loading zone to facilitate commercial outfitter operations. The remaining two-thirds of the turnout were available as free public parking for day users, fishermen, and private boaters.

Looking south at the old loading zone. 

This winter, the Forest Service used its KR3 relicensing money to widen this turnout for additional bus space and improve the wide walking path down to the river suitable for outfitters to carry their rafts. 

However, the Forest Service also installed two additional signs marking the entire turnout as no parking, loading only. As currently marked, non-commercial boaters (who do not have buses for shuttle and rely on parking their vehicles at the takeout) will have to park well away from the Willow Point turnout and walk Mountain 99 to retrieve their cars and return them to the loading zone.

Two new signs have marked the entire turnout at Limestone takeout as no parking, loading only. 

KRB recognizes the need for a loading zone at the Limestone takeout to facilitate commercial outfitter operations. However, KRB believes the signage change establishing the entire takeout as no parking, loading-only too strongly favors outfitter interests over those of day users, fishermen, and private boaters. 

KRB has contacted the Forest Service with its concerns. Hopefully, the signage change was simply a mistaken part of the improvement project. KRB has voiced its position that the former signage pattern, which balanced the interests of commercial outfitters with the many other users of this site, should be re-established — preferably before the Spring runoff begins. KRB will keep you updated. 

Notes from the Annual USFS Outfitters' Meeting

On January 30, 2015, KRB attended the annual meeting between the United States Forest Service and local whitewater rafting outfitters at the USFS Kernville office.

Our main purpose in attending this annual event is to keep the concerns of private boaters in front of the decision-makers in the Kern drainage. This year, Al Watson and Tricia Maki of the local USFS office were kind enough to put us on the agenda to seek support for releases on the Lower Kern in mitigation for the adverse impacts entailed by the Army Corps' Isabella Dam project. The outfitters were both receptive and agreeable with the need for guaranteed releases in 2021 — and in other years, but that's for another post. 

The balance of the meeting was dominated by details of the challenges confronting outfitters in light of what is, at this time, looking to be a fourth straight season of drought. The outfitters all vowed to open their doors this year, at least for a while, but the economics of their operations have, quite possibly, never looked this bleak. We all share hope for a large rain event or pattern that pulls this season out of the drought range. Even a 75% snowpack year would be a great benefit — for outfitters and private boaters alike. 

Tidbits from the meeting included a moving presentation from Barbara and Rex of Keepers of the Kern. The Keepers became the biggest local story of 2014 by cleaning up the riverbanks of the Upper Kern with the help of their volunteers and private donations. The Keepers will be keeping on and look to expand their efforts down to the lower Kern. KRB's members should consider volunteering for trash pickup with the Keepers if they are able.

The USFS reported on how it finally spent its "FERC dollars" (USFS parlance) from the 2004 relicensing of Edison's Kern River No. 3 hydroproject — $300,000. It spent that large sum on a few permanent toilets and some outfitter-requested road, and parking projects to help their buses on the Upper Kern. More than two years ago, KRB made public the fact that the Forest Service had held onto the money from Edison for nine years before bringing the projects to completion. KRB will write a more detailed post regarding how the KR3 relicensing money — like the money from the Borel relicensing which was spent on paving the road to Democrat — went to projects promoted by outfitters with no apparent private boater input. Getting greater private boater input and say on the expenditure of public money constitutes a large part of KRB's mission. 

Finally, KRB learned that the  whitewater park project in Kernville is, for a second year, still lacking construction permits from the county and the Army Corps. Until those permits are obtained, the project is on hold. KRB supports the whitewater park project and will work to ensure it becomes a year-round destination for private boaters. KRB also learned the Brush Creek race is being moved to the weekend after the TJ Slalom race, although there is a chance neither will be held this year unless the snowpack improves. This change will provide boaters interested in both the slalom race and the creek race more time to prepare, as these two races have historically been included in an all-too-busy, single weekend. The change would also move the creek event a week closer to its average high water day, which is in early May. 

Tell the Corps you want Whitewater Releases

It's time for us — all of us — to petition the Corps.

As this document explains, the Corps' Isabella Dam project poses a serious threat to the summer 2021 boating season on the lower Kern. 

KRB has proposed whitewater releases in mitigation, but that proposal will wither on the vine unless it gets the support of lots of private boaters. 

KRB urges its members and people of like-mind to email the following two addresses:

isabella@usace.army.mil 
hunter.merritt@usace.army.mil

and express (1) your concern about the threat the project poses to the 2021 lower Kern season and (2) your preference for whitewater releases to mitigate that threat. You can also mention, if you'd like, that you support Kern River Boaters' comments to the Corps. Whatever you write, let your voice be heard on this important public issue. 

KRB Comments to the Corps Updated

KRB has updated its comments to the Corps.

We have more tightly tied the request for whitewater releases to the particular season threatened by the Corps' project: summer 2021.

We have also clarified with the Corps that they intend to remove the pool restriction in "early Spring" 2021 — the slide they presented in Kernville last November is inaccurate. The Corps can't get us a more specific date.

KRB is always open to comments and criticism about its positions — they make them stronger — so please contact us with your ideas. 

A Brief Respite from the KR3 Diversion?

Edison today announced its "intent to dewater a water conveyance" at its Kern River No. 3 hydroproject to conduct repairs from March 01 to March 14 of this year. KR3, of course, dewaters 600cfs from the Upper Kern. Hopefully Edison's vague declaration means it will not divert water from the river during that period of time, and thus Chamise, and hopefully more if we get more snowmelt, will be open for business those two weeks. 

[March 01 UPDATE: As of today, the flow phone indicated that SCE is not diverting on the Upper Kern. Get out there and enjoy the next two weeks. Chamise is in and, once temperatures warm up a bit, hopefully more -- KRB.]

[March 18 UPDATE: On March 13, Edison resumed diverting water from the upper Kern, leaving only 81cfs in the riverbed.]

The Isabella Reservoir Pool Restriction

At the November 21, 2014 public meeting in Kernville regarding the Isabella Dam project, the Corps posted the following slide (dated November 17, 2014) indicating the pool restriction would be in effect from late 2020 until June 01, 2021:

However, the Corps' Final Environmental Impact Statement, released in October 2012, states the pool restriction will be in effect during "a four-to-six-month window from Fall 2020 to early Spring 2021." (Final EIS at pp. 2-5, 2-10, 2-13, 2-24, 3-16, 3-30.) 

Spring begins in late March, so KRB analyzed the historical April 01 storage data for the Isabella reservoir. The result is that over the last 50 years, storage in the reservoir on April 01 has averaged 204,827 acre-feet.

If, contrary to November 17 slide above, "early Spring" is when the Corps is targeting to lift the pool restriction, then around April 01, 2021 storage in the reservoir will be at 72,237 acre-feet, or less.

The reservoir has a storage minimum. 30,000 acre-feet are required to remain in the reservoir for lake recreation. Thus, while the April 01 average storage available for river release has been 174,827 acre-feet, on or around April 01, 2021 only 42,237 acre-feet will be available. The pool restriction accordingly limits useable water to 24% of the historical average.

Fast forward to the summer of 2021. The watermaster has never released boatable flows with storage in the 72,000 acre-feet range. There is no guarantee the watermaster will release inflows from that season's snowmelt at boatable levels during the summer of 2021, as opposed to using those inflows to fill the reservoir. There may not be sufficient inflows to release at boatable levels should the Southern Sierra experience drought the previous winter. And, of course, project delays could keep the pool restriction in force beyond early Spring 2021. 

KRB continues to believe the Isabella Dam project's pool restriction will unavoidably damage the 2021 summer boating season on the Kern below the reservoir, and the Corps should mitigate that damage with a regime of "bubble" releases.