KDWD Newsletter August 24, 2021

August 24, 2021

Kern River Status Update

Official River Inflow numbers for July 2021 came in yesterday. While July 2021 did not set a record low flow for the month, it was only 214 acre feet above the current record low July set in 2014 with 7,016 acre feet. With these final numbers, 2021 is officially the second driest season with an April through July Runoff of 15% of average.

Due to these historically low River flows, instead of the previously issued Kern Island Canal proration, the District has instituted a waiting list. Surface water will be made available to District growers proportionately on a daily basis. District staff will continue to monitor the situation daily to best manage the water supplies we have.

The Kern Groundwater Authority meeting for August has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for September 22.

To help visualize just how low the River is, the District is providing this graph, showing River flow starting in May to today, compared to what the River did in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
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 September 2
Water Resources Department
1000 Buena Vista Road
Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority
First Thursday of the month at 1:00 PM
The next meeting will be on September 2
To Be Determined
Kern Groundwater Authority
Fourth Wednesday of the month at 8:00 AM
Next Meeting: September 22
To Be Determined