Lois Henry, SJV Water

A rainbow arcs over the Kern River west of Allen Road in February 2024.

Kern River trial date is set even as appeal over order to keep up flows continues grinding along

The long-running lawsuit against the City of Bakersfield over how it operates the Kern River is set to go to trial in December 2025.

Canada geese have been found dead on the shore of Truxtun Lake, in central Bakersfield, California.

Environment

Nearly a dozen dead birds found around Truxtun Lake, no cause named yet

Lois Henry, SJV Water

California State University Biology Professor Rae McNeish counted at least 10 dead adult birds along the shore of Truxtun Lakes and saw another two on the island.

California State University, Bakersfield biology student Andrew Alba, counts dead and dying fish on Friday, Aug. 30, in the Kern River near the Stockdale bridge as part of a river monitoring project with CSUB professor Rae McNeish and fellow student Isaac Owens, in the background.

Environment

Students scramble to study the Kern River as Bakersfield cuts off flows, leaving fish to die en masse

Lois Henry, SJV Water

Hundreds of dead and dying fish found near the Stockdale Highway bridge suggest water along the Kern River had been ratcheted back earlier than thought.

Local News

Groundwater agency sues Delano over Niagara water bottling plant

Lois Henry, SJV Water

Concerns over how a newly built water bottling plant will impact the already over drafted aquifer prompted the Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District to sue the City of Delano last month.

Ernest Conant, who is retiring as Director of the Bureau of Reclamation's California-Great Basin Region, spoke at Thursday's annual Water Summit Thursday. A major focus was that California needs to fix and build more water infrastructure.

Local News

Infrastructure the main topic at Kern’s annual water summit

Lois Henry, SJV Water

With nature providing plenty of water — finally — this year, and groundwater regulation well underway, water managers, farmers and others turned their focus to infrastructure at a Water Summit put on by the Water Association of Kern County.

Construction on the Friant-Kern Canal shows a new canal being laid out next to the existing canal, which has sunk due to overpumping groundwater in the region.

Local News

Sinking canal has 'everyone’s attention' and could put entire Tule subbasin under state control

Lois Henry, SJV Water

Fallout over the ever sinking Friant-Kern Canal could affect growers throughout the Tule subbasin regardless of whether they get water from the canal.