Significantly Reduced Flows Could Impact Kern River Soon

“The Lake Isabella Dam is operated by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.

However, the power plant that is directly south of it, which is powered by the water released by the dam, is owned by a separate entity, Isabella Partners.

Recently, Isabella Partners put in a request to the Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the outflow of the dam.

On December 15 the average output of the dam, which solely determines how full the Kern River is south of the dam, was around 650 cubic feet per second. This has resulted in a heavy flow that continues down the canyon and through Bakersfield. The request from Isabella Partners asks for that to be reduced to 25 CFS.” [Read More]