Kern River Status Update
Last week, the Department of Water Resources updated its May B-120 forecast for the year. The DWR forecast predicts that the April through July runoff for the Kern River will be around 52% of normal. This forecast is based on observed conditions through May 12. The April 2020 District Proration letter can be viewed here.
At a grower meeting earlier this month, it was determined that the Farmers and Buena Vista canals shall begin operations so that deliveries will be possible beginning on June 1. The Stine Canal will begin operation as soon as work related to the Centennial Corridor Project no longer impacts District facilities (required to be June 1).
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 2017-2018, 2018-2019, the current period of 2019-2020, as well as other two-year periods in which the first year was above average for the Kern River. The flows for this year are estimates only and subject to revision. |
