KERNVILLE, Calif. — It began out like a typical whitewater rafting journey on the North Fork of the Kern River. Boaters paddled by churning rapids, gliding previous boulders and crashing by breaking waves.
However after a number of miles, as they approached a dam, the group drifted to the financial institution and lifted their blue raft out of the water to start an eight-hour journey on land.
Their plan: to carry an uncommon protest by carrying the raft on foot for 16 miles beside a stretch of river that’s rendered impassable the place the dam takes a lot of its water and reroutes it far downstream.
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“That 16 miles of river is not runnable in a boat,” mentioned Jonathan Yates, an avid kayaker who organized the protest. “There’s not enough water in the river.”
Because the six boaters set out on the street beside Fairview Dam in late June, about three-fourths of the river’s stream was being diverted right into a tunnel and coursing by pipelines that snake alongside the steep-sided canyon to Southern California Edison’s Kern River No. 3 hydropower plant.
Tubers benefit from the Higher Kern River on a summer time night in Kernville, Calif.
Water pours over Fairview Dam, the place flows are diverted from the Kern River for hydropower.
Because the diverted water spins generators to generate electrical energy, the part of river between the dam and the ability plant is usually diminished to a shallow stream amongst boulders.
Yates and different whitewater lovers, together with some who run rafting companies, are demanding modifications within the hydroelectric plant’s operations to go away extra water within the river. They’re calling for measures to make sure flows for boating as Edison seeks to resume its license for the hydroelectric plant from the Federal Vitality Regulatory Fee.
Jonathan Yates, seen right here mirrored in a show, is an avid kayaker who organized the protest.
Yates mentioned he got here up with the concept of a marathon portage to lift consciousness concerning the lack of water on this a part of the river, and invited a number of mates and acquaintances to hitch him.
“Normally you would only portage a very small section of the river around an impassable rapid, maybe a waterfall or something,” he mentioned. “But we wanted to do it to make a point.”
The group slung straps over their shoulders to assist help the raft, which weighs about 100 kilos. They mentioned lugging the boat would make for a tough slog, however they have been ready to sacrifice for the trigger.
“We’re willing to suffer, to experience the discomfort and pain of the long portage, in order to communicate the importance of the Kern River and how much we care about it,” Yates mentioned, “and how much we want to see the status quo change.”
The facility plant simply exterior the city of Kernville, one among two hydropower amenities operated by Edison on the river, was inbuilt 1921 and its present federal license expires in November 2026.
The federal fee’s resolution on the brand new license will set guidelines for water diversions and decide whether or not there are necessities to maintain bigger flows within the river to help boating and fishing. If the fee units new phrases that increase flows, it may open up extra of the Kern River’s well-liked rapids for an extended interval every year, bringing a boon to boaters and whitewater rafting companies.
Julianne Finch (left) and Kate Adamson (proper) have a look at a map earlier than going whitewater rafting on the higher Kern River.
Omar Ramírez will get out of a van earlier than beginning an eight-hour journey carrying a raft beside the Kern River.
Managers of Southern California Edison say they perceive the significance of preserving leisure makes use of of the river, and are incorporating enter from the group as the corporate goes by the relicensing course of.
“Our goal is to ensure the future license terms account for the preservation of natural habitats and recreational resources,” mentioned Jeff Monford, an Edison spokesperson, “while balancing beneficial uses, including hydroelectric generation, and complying with regulatory requirements and operational agreements.”
The Kern, fed by snowmelt within the southern Sierra Nevada, is a boating and trout-fishing mecca that pulls guests from close by Southern California cities in addition to vacationers from around the globe. The a part of the river that’s affected by the plant’s diversions is one among varied sections of the Kern which are well-liked for rafting and kayaking.
A bunch of rafters make their manner down the Decrease Kern River beneath Lake Isabella.
A couple of month in the past, rafters and kayakers have been jetting by well-liked rapids right here with names together with Black Backside Falls, Squashed Paddler and Fender Bender. However as diversions for the ability plant took a bigger share of the Kern’s diminished flows in late June, as typically occurs, the river’s stage dropped to a degree that boats may not navigate by the rocks.
Chris Brown, co-owner of the rafting enterprise Whitewater Voyages, seemed out over a boulder-strewn a part of the stream the place he had rafted a month earlier.
“It’s this great rapid,” Brown mentioned. “Most of the year, this is rendered unrunnable, and it’s just a shame because it’s absolutely world-class the whole way down.”
Rafters paddle by rapids on the Higher Kern River final month.
The North Fork of the Kern is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Brown mentioned having extra water on this a part of the river would assist the native economic system and increase recreation alternatives for Southern California.
Brown offered the raft for the group’s protest and adopted alongside in a van, whereas one other automobile trailed with emergency lights flashing. As automobiles handed, some individuals honked, waved or gave a thumbs-up out the window.
“These guys are doing an incredible physical feat as a demonstration of how valuable this resource is to them,” Brown mentioned.
James Boster, a part-time river information who helped carry the raft, mentioned they have been simply passing a spot that, when there’s sufficient water, types one among his favourite rapids.
“It’s got this smooth, glassy tongue, this absolutely gorgeous waterfall,” Boster mentioned. “I’m excited to be a part of this, trying to keep more of that water in its natural, intended watershed.”
Boaters carry their raft to a launch level on the Higher Kern River.
Because the miles wore on and the temperature approached 100 levels, the six raft-carriers stayed principally upbeat, joking about their impending soreness and the way it will have been nicer had the raft been crammed with helium.
They performed music on a speaker, listening to AC/DC, Inexperienced Day and the Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers.
“Misery loves company. We’re going to keep our spirits up,” Yates mentioned.
The group stopped for a break and sat at a picnic desk within the shade of a willow tree.
Julianne Finch, a Bakersfield monetary advisor, bandaged blisters on her toes.
Omar Ramírez, additionally from Bakersfield, mentioned he had been admiring river swimming pools the place a swim could be refreshing.
A number of individuals wetted shirts within the river, then put them again on. They heaved up the raft to proceed the journey.
“I’ve reached the point of, I’m just going to endure it,” Juan Vargas mentioned as they plodded down Mountain Freeway 99.
Six boaters carry their raft close to Fairview Dam, setting out on a 16-mile portage to protest water diversions that always render a stretch of the Kern River unusable for whitewater rafting.
Down the river in Kernville, a number of residents mentioned additionally they hope to see modifications within the license that guarantee river flows for boating and fishing.
“We’re not asking Edison to take the dam down and move away. We’re just asking to bump up the recreation flows so it benefits the community,” mentioned Gary Ananian, founding father of the nonprofit Kern River Conservancy. “It benefits the wildlife, the fish, and all the people that are using it for boating and fishing.”
Dan Ocampo, a fly-fishing information and store supervisor who additionally kayaks, mentioned he hopes to see a scientific concentrate on bettering the ecosystem’s circumstances for the various kinds of trout that anglers flock to the realm for, amongst them California golden trout, the state fish.
“It would be nice to have more water to fish,” Ocampo mentioned. “I hope they implement more of a scientific approach, where it’s a balance of the water flow, the water temperature, and just figuring out the ecosystem to make it balanced and a better fishery.”
Monford mentioned Southern California Edison is dedicated to working with individuals locally, together with anglers, and balancing the pursuits of all stakeholders whereas growing phrases for the plant’s continued operation “so we can provide dependable clean energy that’s essential to the increasing demand in California.”
Dan Ocampo, store supervisor and fishing information, factors to fishing areas alongside the Kern River on a map exterior the Kern River Fly Store in Kernville.
A map exhibits a stretch of the Kern River.
The Kern River No. 3 Hydroelectric Undertaking has a producing capability of 40.2 megawatts, sufficient to provide roughly 48,000 properties.
Boaters say if water diversions have been considerably diminished, there could possibly be whitewater rafting on this a part of the river for as much as two months longer every year.
Some boaters have advised that the corporate may contemplate operating the ability plant at evening and leaving water within the river through the day.
The Kern River No. 3 Hydroelectric Undertaking stands alongside the Higher Kern River simply north of Kernville.
Monford mentioned, nonetheless, that the plant and its producing models weren’t designed for such a each day cycle, “but rather to provide a predictable and stable resource for grid reliability.” If such an method have been adopted, he mentioned, it will “cause increased wear on the equipment, resulting in increased operations, maintenance and repair costs.”
Edison has been conducting intensive research on boating wants and has been incorporating enter from the group into its plans, Monford mentioned.
“One of our studies revealed that boaters want better predictability in addition to a wider range of flows,” Monford mentioned. “One way we’re addressing this is by recommending to our regulators a 10-day fixed period of maintenance outages that would take the project offline on a more predictable schedule and support boating opportunities.”
Reaching the ultimate stretch of the portage, the group trudged previous the ability plant and its large pipelines coming down the mountainside. Then they marched on towards the river’s edge, the speaker blaring AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”
“I may not have feet anymore,” Finch mentioned as she limped towards the water.
Sweaty and sore, they lastly set down the raft by the riverbank, and posed for photographs. They cracked open beers from a cooler.
Then, a number of jumped within the river.
Kate Adamson, left, and Julianne Finch, middle, cool off within the Kern River after carrying a raft 16 miles on land in a protest to name for leaving extra water within the river.
“This was probably the most insane thing I’ve ever done. Sixteen friggin’ miles,” mentioned Kate Adamson, a highschool biology trainer. “I’m sunburned. I’m thirsty. I can’t feel anything but everything hurts at the same time. … I need an ice bath!”
Sitting on the boat trailer, Adamson mentioned the soreness was value it as a result of she believes in the reason for prioritizing extra water for the river.
“There’s protests like this, that show people you can be an advocate for changing your community by doing something hard, but that people are going to stop and look at,” she mentioned. “It was neat to be a part of that.”
