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 • 2009 Raft Guide School Info • 2009 Class Info • 2009 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 Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Important information about River Notes.

Saturday, June 27th, Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District will be hosting a meeting with private boaters to discuss "the river program, impacts from unethical practices and future opportunities." District Ranger, Rick Larson said, "we are looking for constructive feed-back from the boaters and ideas to improve recreation opportunities in the future. This meeting is to focus on the river program and to gather ideas from private boaters. We are also interested in hearing any concerns and suggestions for making improvements to ensure the healthiness of the Kern River Corridor". The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce building at 11447 Kernville Road at the corner of Sierra Way in Kernville. For more information, please contact Cheryl Bauer, Recreation Officer at the Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781, extension 630.

Paddling the new 2010 Jackson All Star, Evan Moore, 13 yr. old son of Tom & Kittie Moore, placed 1st in the Cadet class at the 61st Annual FIBARK Kayak Races in Salida, Colorado this past weekend. Steven Wright, #1 on the US Freestyle team, lets Evan paddle his 2010 All-Star. Evan thought the boat was incredible, and that it did "everything" better -- including some BIG loops! His 2010 All Star is on order, and he can't wait until it gets here!

The 6th Annual Lower Kern River Cleanup is Saturday, July 11th. Meet at the Miracle Hot Springs lower parking lot at 8:30 a.m. We'll be taking out at Democrat or Delonega Bridge, depending on the time. There will be a BBQ Dinner after the cleanup at Miracle. Prizes and awards (donated by local businesses and persons) will be given out at the dinner. Bring your own boat and/or bring boating clothing to join in on a raft. Since many rafts are personally-owned boats, you should bring your own PFD and helmet. Some will be provided, but not enough for everyone. For those who do not want to go on the water, buses will be provided for traveling down the river. Bring gloves for the cleanup and chairs for the dinner. Sponsored by Kern Valley River Council. For more information contact Brian Cosgrove at 760-549-3760, or blasttmann at aol.com.

The new 2010 Jackson Kayak All-Star swept the Men's Freestyle class in its competition debut at the Teva Mountains Games in Vail, Colorado. Stephen Wright's tallied up a record freestyle score of 1310 points to take first, with Nick Troutman and Dustin Urban a close second and third. In addition to its record freestyle performance, the boat was tested on the Colorado River at 12,000 cfs. How did it do? Accord ing to JK the increased volume made it easier to keep the ends out of the water, improving river running. “The new All-Star series caters to the paddler who wants World Championship performance in their playboat, even if they are learning the most basic of moves like the front surf,” Jackson said. Evan Moore and Paul Armes have already ordered their All Stars. For more info, or to order yours, call 1-800-376-7303.

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 2011 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!

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!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2009 season will mark our 24th year on the Kern River!

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 Thursday, June 18, 2009

Important information about River Notes.

Show your appreciation for your Dad -- take him rafting for free on Father's Day Weekend, June 20th and June 21st. The only catch is that he must be accompanied by another family member. It can be any of our rafting trips, excluding those that take place on the Lower Kern. View our trips and book your date using our convenient new online reservations page. Reference the coupon code: FD062009. Reservations must be made prior to June 20th. Give Dad the gift of adventure this Father's Day!!

Saturday, June 27th, Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District will be hosting a meeting with private boaters to discuss "the river program, impacts from unethical practices and future opportunities." District Ranger, Rick Larson said, "we are looking for constructive feed-back from the boaters and ideas to improve recreation opportunities in the future. This meeting is to focus on the river program and to gather ideas from private boaters. We are also interested in hearing any concerns and suggestions for making improvements to ensure the healthiness of the Kern River Corridor". The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce building at 11447 Kernville Road at the corner of Sierra Way in Kernville. For more information, please contact Cheryl Bauer, Recreation Officer at the Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781, extension 630.

Yep, 1st time ever for Sierra South -- killer deals mid-season on new 2009 boats. The slow down in the economy has affected all of us in different ways. This is our way of helping out and saying thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We're a small specialty outdoor store on the beautiful Wild & Scenic Kern River. Without you shopping here, we would not exist! We love our work, we love working for you, and we love sharing the passion, excitement and joys of running rivers. Things will get better. As the wise old river runner would say, "This too, will pass."

Meanwhile, check out our prices on new boats! The are all on sale! That's right, from now until the longest day of the year (that's Sunday, June 21st) you can get great prices on all new 2009 and late model 2008 boats. This pricing is good for boats in stock now only. New boats coming in (new All-Stars, etc) will not be on sale. Get 'em while the 're still here. The water is holding nicely on the Upper Kern with cool weather and summer thunderstorms helping. The Lower is over 1000cfs. Come on up, get in some paddling, and stop by the store to say hi!

The new 2010 Jackson Kayak All-Star swept the Men's Freestyle class in its competition debut at the Teva Mountains Games in Vail, Colorado. Stephen Wright's tallied up a record freestyle score of 1310 points to take first, with Nick Troutman and Dustin Urban a close second and third. In addition to its record freestyle performance, the boat was tested on the Colorado River at 12,000 cfs. How did it do? Accord ing to JK the increased volume made it easier to keep the ends out of the water, improving river running. “The new All-Star series caters to the paddler who wants World Championship performance in their playboat, even if they are learning the most basic of moves like the front surf,” Jackson said. Evan Moore and Paul Armes have already ordered their All Stars. For more info, or to order yours, call 1-800-376-7303.

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 2011 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!

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!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2009 season will mark our 24th year on the Kern River!

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, June 12, 2009

Important information about River Notes.

Show your appreciation for your Dad -- take him rafting for free on Father's Day Weekend, June 20th and June 21st. The only catch is that he must be accompanied by another family member. It can be any of our rafting trips, excluding those that take place on the Lower Kern. View our trips and book your date using our convenient new online reservations page. Reference the coupon code: FD062009. Reservations must be made prior to June 20th. Give Dad the gift of adventure this Father's Day!!

Yep, 1st time ever for Sierra South -- killer deals mid-season on new 2009 boats. The slow down in the economy has affected all of us in different ways. This is our way of helping out and saying thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We're a small specialty outdoor store on the beautiful Wild & Scenic Kern River. Without you shopping here, we would not exist! We love our work, we love working for you, and we love sharing the passion, excitement and joys of running rivers. Things will get better. As the wise old river runner would say, "This too, will pass."

Meanwhile, check out our prices on new boats! The are all on sale! That's right, from now until the longest day of the year (that's Sunday, June 21st) you can get great prices on all new 2009 and late model 2008 boats. This pricing is good for boats in stock now only. New boats coming in (new All-Stars, etc) will not be on sale. Get 'em while the 're still here. The water is holding nicely on the Upper Kern with cool weather and summer thunderstorms helping. The Lower is over 1000cfs. Come on up, get in some paddling, and stop by the store to say hi!

The new 2010 Jackson Kayak All-Star swept the Men's Freestyle class in its competition debut at the Teva Mountains Games in Vail, Colorado. Stephen Wright's tallied up a record freestyle score of 1310 points to take first, with Nick Troutman and Dustin Urban a close second and third. In addition to its record freestyle performance, the boat was tested on the Colorado River at 12,000 cfs. How did it do? Accord ing to JK the increased volume made it easier to keep the ends out of the water, improving river running. “The new All-Star series caters to the paddler who wants World Championship performance in their playboat, even if they are learning the most basic of moves like the front surf,” Jackson said. Evan Moore and Paul Armes have already ordered their All Stars. For more info, or to order yours, call 1-800-376-7303.

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 2011 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!

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!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2009 season will mark our 24th year on the Kern River!

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 Thursday, June 4, 2009

Important information about River Notes.

Show your appreciation for your Dad -- take him rafting for free on Father's Day Weekend, June 20th and June 21st. The only catch is that he must be accompanied by another family member. It can be any of our rafting trips, excluding those that take place on the Lower Kern. View our trips and book your date using our convenient new online reservations page. Reference the coupon code: FD062009. Reservations must be made prior to June 20th. Give Dad the gift of adventure this Father's Day!!

Yep, 1st time ever for Sierra South -- killer deals mid-season on new 2009 boats. The slow down in the economy has affected all of us in different ways. This is our way of helping out and saying thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We're a small specialty outdoor store on the beautiful Wild & Scenic Kern River. Without you shopping here, we would not exist! We love our work, we love working for you, and we love sharing the passion, excitement and joys of running rivers. Things will get better. As the wise old river runner would say, "This too, will pass."

Meanwhile, check out our prices on new boats! The are all on sale! That's right, from now until the longest day of the year (that's Sunday, June 21st) you can get great prices on all new 2009 and late model 2008 boats. This pricing is good for boats in stock now only. New boats coming in (new All-Stars, etc) will not be on sale. Get 'em while the 're still here. The water is holding nicely on the Upper Kern with cool weather and summer thunderstorms helping. The Lower is over 1000cfs. Come on up, get in some paddling, and stop by the store to say hi!

Congrats to EJ, Emily and Dane Jackson, and all who qualified for the 2009 US Freestyle Team, and will be competing in the World Freestyle Kayak Championships in Thun, Switzerland. Speaking of Jackson Kayak -- there's a lot of excitement over the performance of the new 2010 Star series. As EJ says, the only way to get a jump on the people clamoring for this new boat is to pre-order one today. For more info call 1-800-376-7303.

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 2011 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!

The new 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 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.

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!

Sierra South has been running raft trips, and teaching kayaking classes on the Kern River since 1985. The 2009 season will mark our 24th year on the Kern River!

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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