(Links and other information are historical in nature and may no
longer be correct. Products referenced in the archives may no longer
be available. References to products on sale do not apply.) |
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o Recreation access is likely the greatest unresolved land management issue in America. While conservation, resource protection, and restoration get much attention from federal agencies and recreationists, access is often overlooked and there is often a lack of funding, direction, and expertise for working in this frequently contentious arena. More: Access Toolbox from American Whitewater. o USGS Surface-Water Field Techniques training class. This on-line class is designed to be taken at your own pace. We hope it will provide you with a basic understanding of techniques the U.S Geological Survey uses to collect streamflow data. More: USGS o Around the world, unruly rivers have long driven a hard bargain. In exchange for rich soil, irrigated land and convenient transportation, they have forced floodplain dwellers to deal with an occasional washout. Engineers have labored for thousands of years to lessen the risk, but their attempts at managing Mother Nature have been mixed -- often resulting in as much failure as success. More: NOVA o Dutch whalers, plying the waters adjacent to Greenland in the late 1600s, brought back not only a wealth of whale oil and furs, but many artifacts acquired from the Greenlanders. Along with hunting equipment, skins and ivory, the whalers brought back kayaks. Several of them still exist, souvenirs from a grand period of Dutch seafaring; ethnological treasures that offer a valuable glimpse into 300-year-old kayak forms from Greenland. More: Sea Kayaker Magazine Splashes: Fender Bender@ 20,000 cfs - Salmon River Canyon - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Tricky Wuu |
Important information about River Notes.
Following Memorial holiday highs in the mid-eighties, the mercury jumped into the triple digits yesterday with the Kernville RAWS recording a high of 104 degrees. Yesterday's jump in temperature is resulting in big jump in the Upper Kern flow today with the Kern at Kernville already above 3400 cfs this morning. Earlier today the SCE flow phone reported 3729 cfs above Fairview Dam. This is the highest the river has been as a result of Spring snowmelt since late May of 1998!
Yesterday's daily average inflow into Isabella was 3326 cfs and the average flow at Kernville was 2859 cfs. The updated (May 28th) Short Term Snowmelt Forecast (PDF) from the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) has increased its peak average daily flow forecast to about 3780 cfs on May 30th.The probable average daily Isabella inflow for the 5 day period 5/28 to 6/1 is now forecast to be about 3600 cfs, with a reasonable maximum of 3900 cfs. With triple digit highs expected today and tomorrow, an hourly peak flow in the neighborhood of 4000 cfs could occur Friday. We'll see!
Athletes from more than 15 countries are expected to benefit from the higher June flows when the Kern Valley hosts a series of six ICF World Cup Wildwater races June 14-22 on the Kern River . For a schedule of events, and more information, see KernWildwater.com.
We have new Transformers, G-Rides, GT 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, FX 5.7, Blackwaters, Sparkys, Sundances, Hulas, and Festivas in stock. Check 'em out in the New Boat Barn and Kayak Comparison Chart.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 28MAY2003 1000 | 3571 | 2957 | 8.67 | 3451 | 1061 | 472 | 589 | 251672 | 721 |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '03 | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | Kernville RAWS | RAWS Archive | |
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
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o Recreation access is likely the greatest unresolved land management issue in America. While conservation, resource protection, and restoration get much attention from federal agencies and recreationists, access is often overlooked and there is often a lack of funding, direction, and expertise for working in this frequently contentious arena. More: Access Toolbox from American Whitewater. o USGS Surface-Water Field Techniques training class. This on-line class is designed to be taken at your own pace. We hope it will provide you with a basic understanding of techniques the U.S Geological Survey uses to collect streamflow data. More: USGS o Around the world, unruly rivers have long driven a hard bargain. In exchange for rich soil, irrigated land and convenient transportation, they have forced floodplain dwellers to deal with an occasional washout. Engineers have labored for thousands of years to lessen the risk, but their attempts at managing Mother Nature have been mixed -- often resulting in as much failure as success. More: NOVA o Dutch whalers, plying the waters adjacent to Greenland in the late 1600s, brought back not only a wealth of whale oil and furs, but many artifacts acquired from the Greenlanders. Along with hunting equipment, skins and ivory, the whalers brought back kayaks. Several of them still exist, souvenirs from a grand period of Dutch seafaring; ethnological treasures that offer a valuable glimpse into 300-year-old kayak forms from Greenland. More: Sea Kayaker Magazine Splashes: Fender Bender@ 20,000 cfs - Salmon River Canyon - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Tricky Wuu |
Important information about River Notes.
Warming temperatures the last several days have increased the snowmelt and pushed the flow at Kernville above the 2500 cfs mark this morning. The 10-day plot from the Corps of Engineers shows the increase in flow and the daily variation.The release to the Lower Kern has also been increased, and this morning the flow at Borel is reported at 945 cfs.
How high will the River get? The May 21st Short Term Snowmelt Forecast (PDF) from the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) projects a peak daily flow of about 3000 cfs around May 30. Note that this is an average inflow to Lake Isabella for the day and is a "middle of the road" estimate that assumes normal weather conditions for the forecast period. The forecast of the average daily inflow for the 5 day period 5/28 to 6/1 ranges from a minimum of about 2200 cfs (unlikely) to a maximum of about 4000 cfs, with a probable daily average of about 2700 cfs.
Yesterday, the high temperature at the Kernville RAWS was 98 degrees, and today's high should be about the same. Temperatures are forecast to cool a few degrees over the weekend, then increase again next week. This cooling and the CNRFC forecast suggests the peak at Kernville may not occur until later next week. Flow projections suggest that the peak hourly flow at Kernville will likely exceed 3000 cfs and could be above 3500 cfs.
Athletes from more than 15 countries are expected to benefit from the higher June flows when the Kern Valley hosts a series of six ICF World Cup Wildwater races June 14-22 on the Kern River . For a schedule of events, and more information, see KernWildwater.com.
Today's RiverPhoto is Sierra South paddling guru Paul Armes in his Wave Sport T2 at the 2003 Kern River Festival. Paul is doing a nice vertical cartwheel on his way to finishing second in the Men's Expert class in the Freestyle event. Additional photos from this year's Festival have been posted on the web site.
We have new Transformers, G-Rides, GT 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, FX 5.7, Blackwaters, Sparkys, Sundances, Hulas, and Festivas in stock. Check 'em out in the New Boat Barn and Kayak Comparison Chart. We have demo boats of most models, and there is plenty of water to see how they paddle.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 23MAY2003 1000 | 2281 | 1672 | 7.85 | 2529 | 943 | 354 | 589 | 232699 | 607 |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '03 | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | Kernville RAWS | RAWS Archive | |
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
|
o Recreation access is likely the greatest unresolved land management issue in America. While conservation, resource protection, and restoration get much attention from federal agencies and recreationists, access is often overlooked and there is often a lack of funding, direction, and expertise for working in this frequently contentious arena. More: Access Toolbox from American Whitewater. o USGS Surface-Water Field Techniques training class. This on-line class is designed to be taken at your own pace. We hope it will provide you with a basic understanding of techniques the U.S Geological Survey uses to collect streamflow data. More: USGS o Around the world, unruly rivers have long driven a hard bargain. In exchange for rich soil, irrigated land and convenient transportation, they have forced floodplain dwellers to deal with an occasional washout. Engineers have labored for thousands of years to lessen the risk, but their attempts at managing Mother Nature have been mixed -- often resulting in as much failure as success. More: NOVA o Dutch whalers, plying the waters adjacent to Greenland in the late 1600s, brought back not only a wealth of whale oil and furs, but many artifacts acquired from the Greenlanders. Along with hunting equipment, skins and ivory, the whalers brought back kayaks. Several of them still exist, souvenirs from a grand period of Dutch seafaring; ethnological treasures that offer a valuable glimpse into 300-year-old kayak forms from Greenland. More: Sea Kayaker Magazine Splashes: Fender Bender@ 20,000 cfs - Salmon River Canyon - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Tricky Wuu |
Important information about River Notes.
Look for temperatures and flows to become more seasonable over the next few days, with highs near 80 and the flow at Kernville staying comfortably above 1000 cfs. The warm Spring weather and increasing flow should be perfect for our Free Whitewater Boat Demo, Saturday May 17th from 1-5p.m.at Frandy Park (across from Riverside Park); and our Free Recreational Boat Demo, Sunday May 18th from 9a.m. - 1 p.m. at French Gulch, Lake Isabella.
In most years in May the talk is about snowmelt, rather than snowstorms. But this year the snowmelt has been on hold since April 13 when the weather turned cool and Winter-like storms returned to the Sierra. The Pascoes snow sensor at 9150 ft. in the Kern Basin recorded an increase of 5 inches water equivalent, or about 50 inches of snow since April 13. Statewide, from April 1 to May 9 the snowpack increased from 70% of normal for the date to 147% of normal! The cool weather and late season snow has wreaked havocon water supply forecasts and flow projections.
What about the Kern snowpack and runoff forecast? Based on snow sensor reports and snow course measurements, above about 9000 ft the snowpack has increased from approximately 70% of normal on April 1 to nearly 100% of normal for May 9. At lower elevations there is somewhat less snow than average for the date. There is significantly more snow than last year. For example last year on May 9 the snow water content at Pascoes was 5.3 inches, this year it's 21.0 inches. Last year the SWC at Chagoopa Plateau was 1.7 inches on this date, and today it is reported at 15.0 inches. (Snow water content is the depth of water that would be produced if the snow was melted.)
Due in part to the cool weather. and in part to the additional snow, the Bulletin 120 runoff forecast for the inflow to Lake Isabella for May and June has increased approximately 33% since April 1. The average daily inflow for May has increased from 1,460 cfs to 1950 cfs, and in June from 1,260 cfs to 1,680 cfs. When the runoff forecasts are updated these values will probably be nudged upward again. The current Short Term Snowmelt Forecast (PDF) from the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) projects a peak daily flow of about 2800 cfs around June 1. This is an estimate that assumes normal weather conditions for the forecast period. The CNRFC also produces longer term flow outlooks for selected rivers including the Kern inflow to Lake Isabella. Both the short term and longer term forecasts are updated weekly in season.
Athletes from more than 15 countries are expected to benefit from the higher June flows when the Kern Valley hosts a series of six ICF World Cup Wildwater races June 14-22 on the Kern River . For a schedule of events, and more information, see KernWildwater.com.
We have new Transformers, G-Rides, GT 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, FX 5.7, Blackwaters, Sparkys, Sundances, Hulas, and Festivas in stock. Check 'em out in the New Boat Barn and Kayak Comparison Chart. We have demo boats of most models, and there is plenty of water to see how they paddle.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 09MAY2003 1300 | -- | -- | 5.98 | 880 | 368 | 101 | 267 | 212317 | -- |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '03 | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | Kernville RAWS | RAWS Archive | |
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
