https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhBx1PqJOkU
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This is a lake. Back in the 1800's it was full of water, then it went dry. And the farmers and growers planted almond orchards there and some have ranches there. It could get worse when all the 500+ inches of snow melts this coming summer, in which we are expecting on Monday to be in the 80s. The King's river and the San Joaquin river won't be fishable until July, the smaller streams in the Sierras will have enough water to last through the summer.
But I think by August we will be back in the drought stage due to all the water running to the ocean. California definitely doesn't know how to conserve water. They keep building more multi-house subdivisions and lots of apartments. All the almond orchards around here are now turning into big subdivisions.
Jay, Put a moratorium on babies and we wouldn't have to have more homes. Carl Blackledge
"Nothing ever stays the same."
by Garth Jooste
Good advise back in 1970; but not needed now. Birth rates are near replacement. Ca government is correcting the population inflow by itself now; have you seen your tax bill? that's why so many people are moving to Nev and Idaho and even Ore.
There has been a popular movement afoot to restore the flows of the lower Kern River through what is normally-now it's dewatered channel, possibly as far as its historic terminus. Where the waters could be conveyed into new channels for delivery to customers, as opposed to taking the water out to the riverbed well upstream of that point as is the current practice.
I rode along the typically dewatered area of the lower Kern for a couple of days last week and saw firsthand thousands of acres of land being subjected to a managed flooding which will help recharge the ground water table. Thats something both ag and residential customers have been hoping would occur for some years now.
The residents that are living along the lower river, including thousands who live in newer tract homes, behind levees are getting to see water running through what is usually a dry river channel.
Will the lower river leave its banks this year and cause damage to the surrounding communities? No one really knows for sure, the flood plain maps for the area (according to the talking heads) haven't been updated in many years, so they don't show the new developments along what was historically the rivers course.
For now, the Restore the Kern movement will get to see the river flow through town again. But it's interesting to me, that all the parties with a stake in the outcome of this year's runoff retention are now wishing that the very thing that they hoped for, will subside, before nature takes it course.
Odd we humans....
How high's the water mama, it's pretty damn high and rising.
Right now at Pine flat, which feeds the KR is inflow @9,420 and they are releasing 13,260cfs. with this hot weather that we are having now and through the weekend they will be releasing a lot more. BUT staring Monday it's going to cool down and mid week we are expecting some rain and snow in the mountains. Low temperature to get into the high 60's
Maybe the rattle snakes will go back into hibernation