Kern, California, US

4) Lake Isabella to Sandy Flat (Dam Run)

Keysville view

Keysville view
Photo by Paul Martzen taken 08/16/07

Gauge Information

River Description

This section of the lower Kern is easier than the downstream Sandy Flat to Democrat section and equally scenic. The river flows past low granite cliffs in a narrow but deep bedrock channel. There are long sections of flatwater paddling, broken up by some class 2 rapids, but there are also several serious class 3 to 3+ rapids.

Unfortunately this section has much less dependable flows due to the powerhouse diversion. Additionally there are increased brush and tree hazards. The lower flows allow vegetation to grow further out into the streambed.

Other Information Sources: 

Dreamflows guides:  Kern - Jungle Run

Camping
Wikipedia
Kern River Festival
Kern River Alliance
Kern Valley River Council
Audubon, Kern River Preserve
Wild and Scenic Kern
Sequoia National Forest Kernville office phone # 760-376-3781
Sierra South store

Cassady & Calhoun, Martin, Alan Baty

FERC relicensing of Borel Powerhouse: The Borel Powerhouse, owned by Southern California Edison diverts up to 600 cfs around this reach. Since minimum boatable flows are about 300 cfs, releases from Isabella dam need to be 900 cfs or more before this section can be boated.

As part of the new license issued by FERC on May 17, 2006, SCE is mandated to release boatable flows into this bypassed reach. The exact language from the license is as follows:

Condition No. 26 - Boating Flows

The licensee shall augment flows in the diverted reach of the
Lower Kern River between the Lake Isabella main dam and the Borel
Powerhouse to provide opportunity for whitewater boating.

Prior to release of augmented flows the following set of
conditions must be met:
* Augmentation does not need to occur if flows within the
Borel Canal cannot be maintained at 150 cfs during the
release.
* Augmentation does not need to occur if the appropriate
California authority has declared a Stage II or III power
emergency.
* Except for specified holidays, augmentation does not need to
occur on any Monday thru Thursday unless commercial
outfitters have scheduled the first day of a two day trip
and have notified the licensee by the previous Friday.

Target flows will be provided from 9:30 am until 12:30 pm. Flows
will be measured at the agreed upon location developed from
Condition No. 17a, Instream Flow Measurement. The licensee will
develop a Ramping Study for Forest Service approval to determine
appropriate up and down ramping rates to minimize recreational
hazards and stranding of aquatic dependent species.

From the Friday prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day on
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays plus July 4, Labor Day, and
Memorial Day:
* If releases from Lake Isabella are at least 400 cfs, augment
the release so that flows in the diverted reach are at least
800 cfs.

From July 1 through Labor Day on all days not included above:
* If releases from Lake Isabella are less than 500 cfs,
augment the release so that flows in the diverted reach are
at least 400 cfs, and when possible, 500 cfs.

If augmented flows are to be released on a Monday thru Thursday
due to a request by a commercial outfitter, the licensee shall
provide notification of the augmented flow schedule to the
general public through an agreed upon method (e.g. flow phone or
website) no later than 7 pm on the previous Friday.

The Forest Service acknowledges that SCE has limited authority
over releases from Isabella Reservoir. SCE cannot independently
augment flows in the diverted reach without the cooperation of
the Army Corps of Engineers and the downstream water rights
holders. The Forest Service expects SCE to enter into an
Agreement with the Corps and water rights holders to obtain the
needed releases. The Forest Service also reserves the right to
revise this condition if flow release agreements reached between
SCE, COE, and water rights holders require changes to the
schedule described in this condition.

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The Kern WaterMaster and the Kern Water Users (several irrigation districts and the city of Bakersfield) have strongly objected to this license condition. They are pressuring SCE, the Forest Service and the outfitters into accepting capital improvements at the Democrat take out rather than supplemental boating flows in this reach.

The FERC project number is P-382. Documents about this project can be found on the web at ferc.gov using the ‘‘RIMS’’ link, select ‘‘Docket#’’ and follow the instructions (call 202–208–2222 for assistance).

Links to important documents:
Extension of Time for boating release agreement.
Objections of Kern Water Users to boating flows
New license doucument, Granted May 17, 2008
Army Corp objections to boating releases
Comments by American Whitewater and Sierra Club

The 2006 Order requires a minimum instream fish release ranging from 25 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 60 cfs, depending upon the time of year. However, because the original intake works of the Borel Project have been inundated by the storage in the Isabella Reservoir, the fish releases from Isabella Reservoir are under the control of the Corps and the Isabella Partners Hydro Project (FERC Project No. 8377), located at the base of the Isabella main dam. Therefore, these flow releases are made on behalf of the licensee by an agreement signed by the licensee and the Corps on April 23, 1999, as amended on September 1, 2006, and by Isabella Partners (IP) under the direction of the Corps.