KDWD Newsletter April 11, 2025

Kern River Status Update Earlier this week the Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued their B-120 April 1 Forecast and first update. The most recent forecast incorporated the 6-day forecasted precipitation from the California Nevada River Forecast Center and then assumes median climatology for the remainder of the forecast period. The 50% exceedance for the Kern River from April through July is 370,000 acre feet. That is 87% of average for DWR’s model period from 1991 to 2020. That is 80% of the Kern Rivers long term historical average. Given this forecast, the District anticipates that water will be available to all Utility ground through into the early part of August. Prorations for the Buena Vista, Stine, Farmers and State ground will be released later this month.

To help visualize the current state of the River, the District is providing this graph that compares flow rates for the two-year periods of 2023-2024, the current period of 2024-2025, as well as other two-year periods in which the second year follows an average year for the Kern River. The flows for this year are estimates only and subject to revision.

Below is a list of upcoming meetings that may interest our growers. The information presented at these meetings may directly affect agricultural practices and costs. Upcoming Meetings: Kern River Groundwater Sustainability Agency First Thursday of the month at 10:00 AM The next meeting will be on May 1 City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department 1000 Buena Vista Drive, Bakersfield CA 93311 Large Conference Room Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority First Thursday of the month at 1:00 PM The next meeting will be on May 1 Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD 849 Allen Road, Bakersfield, Ca 93314 Kern Non-Districted Land Authority (KNDLA) Fourth Monday of the month at 2:00 PM Next Meeting: April 28    Kern County Water Agency 3200 Rio Mirada Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93308