Kern River Geography
The Kern River is a river in eastern California
in the United States,
approximately 155 mi (249 km) long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra
Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield.
The major sections of the Kern River include the Lower
Kern River below Lake Isabella,
the Upper Kern, and Thunder Run flowing above the lake and the world-famous
Forks of the Kern run which starts at the confluence of the Little Kern and the
North Fork Kern and rolls downriver to Johnsondale.
The main branch of the river (sometimes called the North
Fork) rises from several small lakes west of Mount Whitney in the high Sierra
Nevada mountains in northeastern Tulare County, in the northeast corner of
Sequoia National ParkFed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes
through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for
whitewater rafting and kayaking. It formerly emptied entirely into the Buena
Vista Lake at the
southern end of the Central Valley; however, now it is
diverted for irrigation, recharging aquifers, and it still empties a portion
into Lake Buena Vista
for recreation.
It flows south through the mountains through Inyo and
Sequoia national forests, passing through the Golden Trout Wilderness. At
Kernville it emerges into a widening valley and enters Lake
Isabella, a reservoir formed on the
river by the Isabella Dam. Downstream from the dam it flows southwest, through
a spectacular rugged canyon along the south edge of the Greenhorn
Mountains, emerging east of Bakersfield,
the largest city on the river. In its lower course downstream from Bakersfield
the river is highly diverted through a series of canals to irrigate the
southern Central Valley as part of the Central Valley
Project.
The Kern River receives the Little Kern River from the north in
southern Tulare County.
It receives the South Fork Kern River from the east as an arm of Lake
Isabella. The Friant-Kern
Canal, constructed as part of the
Central Valley Project, joins the river near Bakersfield.
Formerly the river flowed an additional 20 mi (32 km) south
through now-dry swamps to Arvin, then west into Lake
Buena Vista. In periods of high
runoff, the lake overflowed into the nearby San
Joaquin River.
Kern River History
Native Americans were in the Kern River
valley as early as 100 A.D., and they probably lived here much earlier.
Evidence can be found all around the valley and the Kern River. Rocks with grinding holes, artifacts,
arrowheads and petroglyphs (drawings or writings on rocks) have all been found
in the area. The local Indian tribe was called the Tubatulabal Tribe.
They were related to the Shoshone Indians. Many descendants of the Tubatulabal
tribe still live in the Kern Valley
trying to keep alive their ancient traditions and wisdom. Many of the descendants live in the South
Fork area. The Kern River area was first discovered by Capt.
Joseph Reddeford Walker in 1834. Walker
was looking for the northernmost pass through the Sierra that was relatively
snow-free. Walker led many parties
through the Kern Pass.
In the winter of 1845-1846, Walker
led a party through the Kern Valley.
This was an expedition of artist Edward M. Kern, for whom Kern
County, Kernville and the Kern
(River) Valley are all named. The river
was named by John C. Frémont in honor of Edward M. Kern, the topographer of his third expedition
through the American West.
In 1853 gold was discovered along the northern part of the Kern
river. Since then, gold was discovered sporadically, setting up
the many small mining towns around the Kern river that
still exist today.
Isabella Dam was later built in the 1950s. The irrigated
region of the Central Valley near the river supports the
cultivation of alfalfa, fruit, and cotton, as well as cattle grazing. In 1987
the United States Congress designated 151 mi (240 km) of the North (Main)
Fork and South Fork as the Kern Wild and Scenic
River.
In recent years the river has become controversial because
of attempts by the City of Bakersfield
to retain water in the river channel all year round for recreation and the
recharging of the water tables from which it draws its drinking water supply.
The attempts have resulted in conflicts with established agricultural interests
in the Central Valley which depend heavily on the river
as a supply of irrigation water. However, the river recently has been allowed
to flow its normal dry course due to structural problems in the Isabella Dam.
The increase flow reduces stress on the dam.
Interestingly, 80 percent of the drinking water used in Bakersfield
is supplied from wells. Less than 20% comes from the river, most of the river
water being used to irrigate thirsty farm fields.
Kern River Recreation
The most popular recreational activities on the Kern
River are white water rafting and kayaking. The Lower
Kern River offers Class III – IV rapids for good whitewater
fun. The Upper Kern also has class III –
IV rapids and is run regularly by commercial outfitters. The wild Forks of the Kern is a class V
California rafting experience for high-level excitement and energy.
In 1963, the first Kern River Festival was held. Every year since then, the Festival is held
in the spring, towards the end of April (http://www.kvrc.org/festival.htm ). Events include wildwater races, white water
rafting, slalom racing, raft races, powerhouse poker run and more. Vendors and sponsor booths set up on the Kern
riverside as festivities are held all day.
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