River Notes Archive

• Shop at the Sierra South River Store! • Check which New Kayaks are on Sale! • Browse New & Used Kayaks, Rafts & Gear! • Kayak Comparison Chart • 2008 Raft Guide School Info • 2008 Class Info • 2008 Event Calendar • Kern Festival 2008 Photos & Results • "Around the Kern" Resource Guide • Employment Information • News from the Past...

Updated 10/03/08 o The first serious cloud seeding program in California began in 1948 on Bishop Creek in the Owens River basin for California Electric Power Co. Precipitation enhancement in the form of cloud seeding has been practiced continuously in several California river basins since the early 1950s. Most projects are along the central and southern Sierra Nevada with some in the coast ranges. More. o Spectacular mountains, rivers and open spaces in California’s Eastern Sierra and San Gabriel Mountains are closer to gaining permanent protection today after a hearing in the Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee. More. o From farmers to fishermen, from the feds to the Yurok nation, all sides spent the past two years hammering out a deal that hinges on the destruction of four hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River. If those four dams come down, it would be the largest dam removal in U.S. history. More. o The Roadless Areas Conservation Rule is an administrative rule adopted by the U.S. Forest Service in January 2001 to protect the last remaining wildlands in our national forest system. It places about one-third of the national forest system's total acreage off-limits to virtually all road building and logging. (More than half of our national forest land is already open to such activity.) This protection is the only way to spare roadless areas from the severe damage that roads and intense development like clearcut logging have done to other parts of our national forests. More. o One of the most hotly debated topics on Earth is the issue of climate change, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) data centers are central to answering some of the most pressing global change questions that remain unresolved. The National Climatic Data Center contains the instrumental records that can precisely define the nature of climatic fluctuations at time scales of a up to a century. Among the diverse kinds of data platforms whose data contribute to NCDC's armamentarium are: Ships, buoys, weather stations, balloons, satellites, and aircraft. More. o California is blessed with some of the most beautiful and diverse rivers in the world. From the steep creeks of the high Sierra to the broad and powerful rivers of the Central Valley, each river tells a personal story and provides a unique experience to the visitor. More. Splashes: Rolling - AW Safety Code - River Quotes - Foamies - Water Art

River Notes for Monday, December 22, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

It's not too late to give a Sierra South Gift Certificate! They can be purchased for any amount and the cool thing is our certificates aren't just for merchandise. Many of our customers also give rafting trips and kayak classes to their friends and family. Have questions or need help with your order? Call 1-800-376-7303.

Snow is piling up in the Southern Sierra, and more is on the way! This morning's 12z NAM/WRF is projecting 60 hr. precipitation totals in the Sierra of up to 3 inches (water equivalent) from Tuesday morning to Thursday afternoon. We'll see!

An intense upper level low, fed in part by moisture from the subtropical mid-Pacific, generated heavy snow in the Southern Sierra Sunday into last week, producing postcard views around the Kernville area.

Save money on a new kayak from Sierra South -- we've put selected New Kayaks on Sale! In addition to this sale, take advantage of the special rebate program offered by the manufacturer on all new Wavesport, Dagger and Wilderness System kayaks in stock!

At Sierra South we are always eternally optimistic for another great season of paddling because in our minds, we have had 23 wonderful paddling years on our beloved Wild & Scenic Kern River and we can’t wait to be paddling in number 24.  Just as important to us however, are you, our paddling patrons and friends. It is your support of our family-owned local business that allows all of us to enjoy the Kern paddling in the newest and best gear and equipment on the market. (And with the friendliest and best staff in the West!) We can’t thank you enough.

Now, for your paddling family and friends, it is important to show them how much you appreciate their whitewater camaraderie by buying them something new for the holidays. We have gathered some paddling gear, sale items, and stocking stuffers sure to please everyone. Check out our Holiday Goodies section in the River Store. Look in the Boat Barns for fulfilling Christmas dreams of new or used kayaks and rafts. Need help? Our river guides, instructors, and store employees actually use the products we sell. Call 800-376-7303, and you'll talk to a knowledgeable person that can answer your gear questions.

Want to check on the Kern snowpack and see where the snow sensors and snow courses are located? We've put together a Kern River Basin Snow Courses & Sensors Google Earth KMZ file mashup that shows the station locations in Google Earth and links to the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) data page for each station.

NOAA released their 2008-2009 Winter Outlook November 20th. The precipitation outlook for December through February indicates an equal chance of below normal, near normal, or above normal precipitation for California. The IRI Multi Model Seasonal Forecast for Dec-Jan-Feb indicates that below average precipitation is slightly more likely in southern third of California.

Which rain season personality will emerge this Winter? Earlier this year the equatorial Pacific tried to transition to El Nino, but the atmosphere didn't cooperate. As measured by the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), the ENSO state has dropped below the La Nina threshold. And as measured by the Global Wind Oscillation (GWO), an uncooperative atmosphere has continued to cycle through a La Nina base state. This suggests a winter precipitation outlook with a La Nina flavor -- similar to last year. This precipitation map, generated by the ESRL-PSD Composite ENSO plots page, shows the mean November-March precipitation for the U.S. during 9 La Niña events from 1948 to the present.

Two exciting new boats are coming from Jackson in 2009, the Little Hero and the 2-person Dynamic Duo. Jackson Kayak is offering a $100 rebate on prepaid orders for the Little Hero and Dynamic Duo if purchased by January 1, 2009. (Call us for details.) The Little Hero is much smaller than the regular Hero, but bigger than the kid’s Side Kick. It will be a great boat for the 120 lb and up teenager, and adults who are too small for the regular Hero. The 2 person Dynamic Duo should be a gas to paddle! An experienced paddler could show a beginning paddler how to ferry, catch eddies, and other basic skills, or take Class II-III paddlers down some harder runs. It is easy to tandem roll and very forgiving. We will let you know when we get our demo.

Describing the numerous on-river and off-river recreation options, the July/August 2008 issue of Paddler Magazine selected Kernville as one of the 'Best Paddling Towns' in the U.S. The article rated Kernville a 5-star weekend destination and a 5-star 'Near Home' vacation destination. The 2009 Kern River Festival is April 18-19, make your plans now!

Our world-famous Lickety-Split and Lickety-Blaster raft trips are far and away the two most popular and most affordable Class 2-3 whitewater rafting runs available on the Kern River. Both are full of enough excitement to challenge just about everyone from young tikes to grandmas and grandpas. Looking for more adrenalin? Try our new Upper Kern and Forks trips. Download our 2010 Rafting & Kayaking Adventures brochure (PDF) for more information! Reserve your 2009 trip now!

Learn to kayak! Our proven teaching method takes you through a gradual progression that maximizes the fun. We've designed our beginning class for those who have never river kayaked before, or who have played around with kayaking some, but have not had formal instruction in the fundamentals of river kayaking. We also offer a 5-day total immersion learn-to-kayak class. Our Kayaking School page has all the details on these, and other whitewater and lake touring kayak classes!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2008 season will mark our 23rd year on the Kern River!

We are always looking for staff members who are energetic, self-motivated, enjoy the out-of-doors, team players and above all else, willing to provide exceptional guest services. Employment opportunities typically include river guides, kayak instructors, seasonal office staff, reservationists, food service manager, retail sales associates, bus drivers and photographers. Please see our Employment Information page for more information.

We talk a lot about the "Kern River basin" in Rivernotes. During the Winter, we frequently refer to the Upper Tyndall Creek, Pascoes, and Wet Meadows snow sensors. During the paddling season, it might be Limestone, The Forks, Kern Falls, or Kernville. Here's a satellite overview of the 1000 square mile N.F. Kern drainage area with a few of the features labeled. If you look near the bottom of the photo, you'll see Lake Isabella. We're located just north of the lake!

Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data, based on reports from the Corps of Engineers (COE) and Southern California Edison (SCE). Click on "Current" to get the latest COE info. For SCE flow information, call the flow phone at 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. According to SCE, the flow phone values reported for Above & Below Fairview, and Below Democrat Dam are updated every 5-10 seconds. All other flow phone data is manually updated twice a day (7am & 2pm) when an operator is on duty.

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

River Notes for Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

An intense upper level low, fed in part by moisture from the subtropical mid-Pacific, generated heavy snow in the Southern Sierra Sunday into Monday, producing postcard views around the Kernville area.

Snow sensors in the Kern River basin recorded about 2 to 3 inches water equivalent for the storm, or about 20 to 30 inches of snow. A little more snow is possible Wednesday. The ECMWF weather model has been forecasting a Christmas week storm that could be a big snow producer, but so far the GFS model is not onboard. We'll see!

Save money on a new kayak from Sierra South -- we've put selected New Kayaks on Sale! In addition to this sale, take advantage of the special rebate program offered by the manufacturer on all new Wavesport, Dagger and Wilderness System kayaks in stock!

At Sierra South we are always eternally optimistic for another great season of paddling because in our minds, we have had 23 wonderful paddling years on our beloved Wild & Scenic Kern River and we can’t wait to be paddling in number 24.  Just as important to us however, are you, our paddling patrons and friends. It is your support of our family-owned local business that allows all of us to enjoy the Kern paddling in the newest and best gear and equipment on the market. (And with the friendliest and best staff in the West!) We can’t thank you enough.

Now, for your paddling family and friends, it is important to show them how much you appreciate their whitewater camaraderie by buying them something new for the holidays. We have gathered some paddling gear, sale items, and stocking stuffers sure to please everyone. Check out our Holiday Goodies section in the River Store. Look in the Boat Barns for fulfilling Christmas dreams of new or used kayaks and rafts. Need help? Our river guides, instructors, and store employees actually use the products we sell. Call 800-376-7303, and you'll talk to a knowledgeable person that can answer your gear questions.

Want to check on the Kern snowpack and see where the snow sensors and snow courses are located? We've put together a Kern River Basin Snow Courses & Sensors Google Earth KMZ file mashup that shows the station locations in Google Earth and links to the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) data page for each station.

NOAA released their 2008-2009 Winter Outlook November 20th. The precipitation outlook for December through February indicates an equal chance of below normal, near normal, or above normal precipitation for California. The IRI Multi Model Seasonal Forecast for Dec-Jan-Feb indicates that below average precipitation is slightly more likely in southern third of California.

Which rain season personality will emerge this Winter? Earlier this year the equatorial Pacific tried to transition to El Nino, but the atmosphere didn't cooperate. As measured by the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), the ENSO state has dropped below the La Nina threshold. And as measured by the Global Wind Oscillation (GWO), an uncooperative atmosphere has continued to cycle through a La Nina base state. This suggests a winter precipitation outlook with a La Nina flavor -- similar to last year. This precipitation map, generated by the ESRL-PSD Composite ENSO plots page, shows the mean November-March precipitation for the U.S. during 9 La Niña events from 1948 to the present.

Two exciting new boats are coming from Jackson in 2009, the Little Hero and the 2-person Dynamic Duo. Jackson Kayak is offering a $100 rebate on prepaid orders for the Little Hero and Dynamic Duo if purchased by January 1, 2009. (Call us for details.) The Little Hero is much smaller than the regular Hero, but bigger than the kid’s Side Kick. It will be a great boat for the 120 lb and up teenager, and adults who are too small for the regular Hero. The 2 person Dynamic Duo should be a gas to paddle! An experienced paddler could show a beginning paddler how to ferry, catch eddies, and other basic skills, or take Class II-III paddlers down some harder runs. It is easy to tandem roll and very forgiving. We will let you know when we get our demo.

Describing the numerous on-river and off-river recreation options, the July/August 2008 issue of Paddler Magazine selected Kernville as one of the 'Best Paddling Towns' in the U.S. The article rated Kernville a 5-star weekend destination and a 5-star 'Near Home' vacation destination. The 2009 Kern River Festival is April 18-19, make your plans now!

Our world-famous Lickety-Split and Lickety-Blaster raft trips are far and away the two most popular and most affordable Class 2-3 whitewater rafting runs available on the Kern River. Both are full of enough excitement to challenge just about everyone from young tikes to grandmas and grandpas. Looking for more adrenalin? Try our new Upper Kern and Forks trips. Download our 2010 Rafting & Kayaking Adventures brochure (PDF) for more information! Reserve your 2009 trip now!

Learn to kayak! Our proven teaching method takes you through a gradual progression that maximizes the fun. We've designed our beginning class for those who have never river kayaked before, or who have played around with kayaking some, but have not had formal instruction in the fundamentals of river kayaking. We also offer a 5-day total immersion learn-to-kayak class. Our Kayaking School page has all the details on these, and other whitewater and lake touring kayak classes!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2008 season will mark our 23rd year on the Kern River!

We are always looking for staff members who are energetic, self-motivated, enjoy the out-of-doors, team players and above all else, willing to provide exceptional guest services. Employment opportunities typically include river guides, kayak instructors, seasonal office staff, reservationists, food service manager, retail sales associates, bus drivers and photographers. Please see our Employment Information page for more information.

We talk a lot about the "Kern River basin" in Rivernotes. During the Winter, we frequently refer to the Upper Tyndall Creek, Pascoes, and Wet Meadows snow sensors. During the paddling season, it might be Limestone, The Forks, Kern Falls, or Kernville. Here's a satellite overview of the 1000 square mile N.F. Kern drainage area with a few of the features labeled. If you look near the bottom of the photo, you'll see Lake Isabella. We're located just north of the lake!

Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data, based on reports from the Corps of Engineers (COE) and Southern California Edison (SCE). Click on "Current" to get the latest COE info. For SCE flow information, call the flow phone at 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. According to SCE, the flow phone values reported for Above & Below Fairview, and Below Democrat Dam are updated every 5-10 seconds. All other flow phone data is manually updated twice a day (7am & 2pm) when an operator is on duty.

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

River Notes for Friday, December 12, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

It's early in the rain season, but so far the recurring theme seems to have been a high amplitude west coast ridge that shifts west from time to time, opening the door and enabling strong troughs to dig down and produce precipitation along the West Coast. As we speak, the ridge is shifting west and opening the door again.

Abundant jet energy, advected sub-tropical moisture, and strong westerly flow could result in copious, orographically enhanced snowfall in the Southern Sierra Sunday into Monday. The 18z NAM/WRF projects about 2.0 inches water equivalent at middle to high elevations of the Southern Sierra for the 24 hr. period ending Monday evening, and favored locations might exceed this amount. We'll see!

Save money on a new kayak from Sierra South -- we've put selected New Kayaks on Sale! In addition to this sale, take advantage of the special rebate program offered by the manufacturer on all new Wavesport, Dagger and Wilderness System kayaks in stock!

At Sierra South we are always eternally optimistic for another great season of paddling because in our minds, we have had 23 wonderful paddling years on our beloved Wild & Scenic Kern River and we can’t wait to be paddling in number 24.  Just as important to us however, are you, our paddling patrons and friends. It is your support of our family-owned local business that allows all of us to enjoy the Kern paddling in the newest and best gear and equipment on the market. (And with the friendliest and best staff in the West!) We can’t thank you enough.

Now, for your paddling family and friends, it is important to show them how much you appreciate their whitewater camaraderie by buying them something new for the holidays. We have gathered some paddling gear, sale items, and stocking stuffers sure to please everyone. Check out our Holiday Goodies section in the River Store. Look in the Boat Barns for fulfilling Christmas dreams of new or used kayaks and rafts. Need help? Our river guides, instructors, and store employees actually use the products we sell. Call 800-376-7303, and you'll talk to a knowledgeable person that can answer your gear questions.

Want to check on the Kern snowpack and see where the snow sensors and snow courses are located? We've put together a Kern River Basin Snow Courses & Sensors Google Earth KMZ file mashup that shows the station locations in Google Earth and links to the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) data page for each station.

NOAA released their 2008-2009 Winter Outlook November 20th. The precipitation outlook for December through February indicates an equal chance of below normal, near normal, or above normal precipitation for California. The IRI Multi Model Seasonal Forecast for Dec-Jan-Feb indicates that below average precipitation is slightly more likely in southern third of California.

Which rain season personality will emerge this Winter? Earlier this year the equatorial Pacific tried to transition to El Nino, but the atmosphere didn't cooperate. As measured by the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), the ENSO state has dropped below the La Nina threshold. And as measured by the Global Wind Oscillation (GWO), an uncooperative atmosphere has continued to cycle through a La Nina base state. This suggests a winter precipitation outlook with a La Nina flavor -- similar to last year. This precipitation map, generated by the ESRL-PSD Composite ENSO plots page, shows the mean November-March precipitation for the U.S. during 9 La Niña events from 1948 to the present.

Two exciting new boats are coming from Jackson in 2009, the Little Hero and the 2-person Dynamic Duo. Jackson Kayak is offering a $100 rebate on prepaid orders for the Little Hero and Dynamic Duo if purchased by January 1, 2009. (Call us for details.) The Little Hero is much smaller than the regular Hero, but bigger than the kid’s Side Kick. It will be a great boat for the 120 lb and up teenager, and adults who are too small for the regular Hero. The 2 person Dynamic Duo should be a gas to paddle! An experienced paddler could show a beginning paddler how to ferry, catch eddies, and other basic skills, or take Class II-III paddlers down some harder runs. It is easy to tandem roll and very forgiving. We will let you know when we get our demo.

Describing the numerous on-river and off-river recreation options, the July/August 2008 issue of Paddler Magazine selected Kernville as one of the 'Best Paddling Towns' in the U.S. The article rated Kernville a 5-star weekend destination and a 5-star 'Near Home' vacation destination. The 2009 Kern River Festival is April 18-19, make your plans now!

Our world-famous Lickety-Split and Lickety-Blaster raft trips are far and away the two most popular and most affordable Class 2-3 whitewater rafting runs available on the Kern River. Both are full of enough excitement to challenge just about everyone from young tikes to grandmas and grandpas. Looking for more adrenalin? Try our new Upper Kern and Forks trips. Download our 2010 Rafting & Kayaking Adventures brochure (PDF) for more information! Reserve your 2009 trip now!

Learn to kayak! Our proven teaching method takes you through a gradual progression that maximizes the fun. We've designed our beginning class for those who have never river kayaked before, or who have played around with kayaking some, but have not had formal instruction in the fundamentals of river kayaking. We also offer a 5-day total immersion learn-to-kayak class. Our Kayaking School page has all the details on these, and other whitewater and lake touring kayak classes!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2008 season will mark our 23rd year on the Kern River!

We are always looking for staff members who are energetic, self-motivated, enjoy the out-of-doors, team players and above all else, willing to provide exceptional guest services. Employment opportunities typically include river guides, kayak instructors, seasonal office staff, reservationists, food service manager, retail sales associates, bus drivers and photographers. Please see our Employment Information page for more information.

We talk a lot about the "Kern River basin" in Rivernotes. During the Winter, we frequently refer to the Upper Tyndall Creek, Pascoes, and Wet Meadows snow sensors. During the paddling season, it might be Limestone, The Forks, Kern Falls, or Kernville. Here's a satellite overview of the 1000 square mile N.F. Kern drainage area with a few of the features labeled. If you look near the bottom of the photo, you'll see Lake Isabella. We're located just north of the lake!

Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data, based on reports from the Corps of Engineers (COE) and Southern California Edison (SCE). Click on "Current" to get the latest COE info. For SCE flow information, call the flow phone at 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. According to SCE, the flow phone values reported for Above & Below Fairview, and Below Democrat Dam are updated every 5-10 seconds. All other flow phone data is manually updated twice a day (7am & 2pm) when an operator is on duty.

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

River Notes for Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

A new kayak design was spotted on the Eel River over the Thanksgiving holidays. The novel home-grown design has progressed to the prototype stage and initial tests have been encouraging. Superficially similar to some current playboats, the innovative design incorporates features not seen in previous kayaks. Kayaking guru Charlie Albright and team members Jerry and June Albright all gave a big thumbs up to the paddling characteristics of the new boat, commenting that it was "easy to balance, but a little slimy inside." Production is expected to begin next summer with boats available for delivery sometime in October. One color will be offered.

Save money on a new kayak from Sierra South -- we've put selected New Kayaks on Sale! In addition to this sale, take advantage of the special rebate program offered by the manufacturer on all new Wavesport, Dagger and Wilderness System kayaks in stock!

At Sierra South we are always eternally optimistic for another great season of paddling because in our minds, we have had 23 wonderful paddling years on our beloved Wild & Scenic Kern River and we can’t wait to be paddling in number 24.  Just as important to us however, are you, our paddling patrons and friends. It is your support of our family-owned local business that allows all of us to enjoy the Kern paddling in the newest and best gear and equipment on the market. (And with the friendliest and best staff in the West!) We can’t thank you enough.

Now, for your paddling family and friends, it is important to show them how much you appreciate their whitewater camaraderie by buying them something new for the holidays. We have gathered some paddling gear, sale items, and stocking stuffers sure to please everyone. Check out our Holiday Goodies section in the River Store. Look in the Boat Barns for fulfilling Christmas dreams of new or used kayaks and rafts. Need help? Our river guides, instructors, and store employees actually use the products we sell. Call 800-376-7303, and you'll talk to a knowledgeable person that can answer your gear questions.

Want to check on the Kern snowpack and see where the snow sensors and snow courses are located? We've put together a Kern River Basin Snow Courses & Sensors Google Earth KMZ file mashup that shows the station locations in Google Earth and links to the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) data page for each station.

NOAA released their 2008-2009 Winter Outlook November 20th. The precipitation outlook for December through February indicates an equal chance of below normal, near normal, or above normal precipitation for California. The IRI Multi Model Seasonal Forecast for Dec-Jan-Feb indicates that below average precipitation is slightly more likely in southern third of California.

Which rain season personality will emerge this Winter? Earlier this year the equatorial Pacific tried to transition to El Nino, but the atmosphere didn't cooperate. As measured by the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), the ENSO state has dropped below the La Nina threshold. And as measured by the Global Wind Oscillation (GWO), an uncooperative atmosphere has continued to cycle through a La Nina base state. This suggests a winter precipitation outlook with a La Nina flavor -- similar to last year. This precipitation map, generated by the ESRL-PSD Composite ENSO plots page, shows the mean November-March precipitation for the U.S. during 9 La Niña events from 1948 to the present.

Two exciting new boats are coming from Jackson in 2009, the Little Hero and the 2-person Dynamic Duo. Jackson Kayak is offering a $100 rebate on prepaid orders for the Little Hero and Dynamic Duo if purchased by January 1, 2009. (Call us for details.) The Little Hero is much smaller than the regular Hero, but bigger than the kid’s Side Kick. It will be a great boat for the 120 lb and up teenager, and adults who are too small for the regular Hero. The 2 person Dynamic Duo should be a gas to paddle! An experienced paddler could show a beginning paddler how to ferry, catch eddies, and other basic skills, or take Class II-III paddlers down some harder runs. It is easy to tandem roll and very forgiving. We will let you know when we get our demo.

Describing the numerous on-river and off-river recreation options, the July/August 2008 issue of Paddler Magazine selected Kernville as one of the 'Best Paddling Towns' in the U.S. The article rated Kernville a 5-star weekend destination and a 5-star 'Near Home' vacation destination. The 2009 Kern River Festival is April 18-19, make your plans now!

Our world-famous Lickety-Split and Lickety-Blaster raft trips are far and away the two most popular and most affordable Class 2-3 whitewater rafting runs available on the Kern River. Both are full of enough excitement to challenge just about everyone from young tikes to grandmas and grandpas. Looking for more adrenalin? Try our new Upper Kern and Forks trips. Download our 2010 Rafting & Kayaking Adventures brochure (PDF) for more information! Reserve your 2009 trip now!

Learn to kayak! Our proven teaching method takes you through a gradual progression that maximizes the fun. We've designed our beginning class for those who have never river kayaked before, or who have played around with kayaking some, but have not had formal instruction in the fundamentals of river kayaking. We also offer a 5-day total immersion learn-to-kayak class. Our Kayaking School page has all the details on these, and other whitewater and lake touring kayak classes!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2008 season will mark our 23rd year on the Kern River!

We are always looking for staff members who are energetic, self-motivated, enjoy the out-of-doors, team players and above all else, willing to provide exceptional guest services. Employment opportunities typically include river guides, kayak instructors, seasonal office staff, reservationists, food service manager, retail sales associates, bus drivers and photographers. Please see our Employment Information page for more information.

We talk a lot about the "Kern River basin" in Rivernotes. During the Winter, we frequently refer to the Upper Tyndall Creek, Pascoes, and Wet Meadows snow sensors. During the paddling season, it might be Limestone, The Forks, Kern Falls, or Kernville. Here's a satellite overview of the 1000 square mile N.F. Kern drainage area with a few of the features labeled. If you look near the bottom of the photo, you'll see Lake Isabella. We're located just north of the lake!

Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data, based on reports from the Corps of Engineers (COE) and Southern California Edison (SCE). Click on "Current" to get the latest COE info. For SCE flow information, call the flow phone at 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. According to SCE, the flow phone values reported for Above & Below Fairview, and Below Democrat Dam are updated every 5-10 seconds. All other flow phone data is manually updated twice a day (7am & 2pm) when an operator is on duty.

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

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