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 2007 Photos & Results • "Around the Kern" Resource Guide • Employment Information • News from the Past...

Updated 3/10/08 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 You can always tell a canoeist or kayaker from Ohio, that’s because they have been required to register their craft, pay a fee, and place big numbers on the side of their boats ever since the Ohio legislature figured out a way to “cheat” on their federal taxes and get more money from the federal government. The Ohio legislature figured that if they required all canoes, kayaks, and rafts to be registered along with motorboats as recreational watercraft, then they would be eligible for more Wallop-Breaux and other federal transportation funding. 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, January 28, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

It's ironic, but true, we're nearing the end of January in a La Niña year and the Southern Section of the Sierra snowpack is reported at 125% of normal -- still ahead of the the Northern Section at 118% and the Central Section at 99%. Statewide the average was reported at 111% of normal -- up from 99% just a week ago.

Here are the snowfall totals recorded by snow sensors in the Kern River basin since January 20 , through about 8:00 a.m. today:

It's still snowing this morning, and it looks like there will be some additional snow this week, with a chance of more significant snow by Saturday or Sunday. We'll see!

Become a Sierra South whitewater raft guide and have the opportunity to guide guests on the Forks of the Kern and Upper Kern River. From beginning whitewater to heart-thumping class V, we offer a variety of trips. If you have not guided before or would like to brush up on your skills, check out our Guide School program and apply.

Check out all the new 2008 boats in the New Boat Barn: 2008 Jackson Star & Super Fun; Dagger Agent 6.0 & Agent 6.4; Wavesport Diesel 65 & Diesel 75; Liquid Logic Jefe, Jefe Chico, Jefe Grande, Remix 47 Kids, Remix 59, Remix 69, & Remix 79. Please call 800-376-7303 for the latest update.

Many of our new and used 2007 boats remain on sale -- All Star's, Hero's, Rocker's & Tripper's; Wavesport Project's, Habitat's and more!

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.

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!

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!

Remember that the SCE flow phone (877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821) can be called to obtain the flow on the Upper Kern above and below Fairview Dam, and the flow below Democrat Dam on the Lower Kern. (Other flows reported on the flow phone are obtained from COE reports and may not be up to date.) If data from the COE flow report is not available, the Isabella Dam Scheduled Releases MAY be indicative of the flow at Borel on the Lower Kern.

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 Monday, January 7, 2008

Important information about River Notes.

Wow! According to today's Summary of Snow Water Equivalents from California Cooperative Snow Surveys, the series of storms that pounded the Sierra the last several days has increased the Southern Section Sierra Snowpack to 131% of normal for the date! The Northern Section was reported at 112% and the Central Section at 101%. Statewide the average was reported at 111% of normal -- up from 60% at the end of 2007.

Snowfall totals recorded by snow sensors in the Kern River basin ranged from a low of 3.4 inches snow water equivalent (SWE) at Beach Meadows, to a high of 9.0 inches SWE at Wet Meadows:

Did you see that the flow on the Upper Kern jumped up to 3000 cfs early Saturday morning?

Check out all the new 2008 boats in the New Boat Barn: 2008 Jackson Star & Super Fun; Dagger Agent 6.0 & Agent 6.4; Wavesport Diesel 65 & Diesel 75; Liquid Logic Jefe, Jefe Chico, Jefe Grande, Remix 47 Kids, Remix 59, Remix 69, & Remix 79. Please call 800-376-7303 for the latest update.

Many of our new and used 2007 boats remain on sale -- All Star's, Hero's, Rocker's & Tripper's; Wavesport Project's, Habitat's and more!

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.

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!

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!

Remember that the SCE flow phone (877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821) can be called to obtain the flow on the Upper Kern above and below Fairview Dam, and the flow below Democrat Dam on the Lower Kern. (Other flows reported on the flow phone are obtained from COE reports and may not be up to date.) If data from the COE flow report is not available, the Isabella Dam Scheduled Releases MAY be indicative of the flow at Borel on the Lower Kern.

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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