The allure of the Kern’s cool, clear water — many couldn’t resist
| Friday, Nov 05 2010 05:30 PM
Images
Photo courtesy of Don Martin
Plants bloom along the Kern River this summer.
Photo courtesy of Mark Thompson
Dustin Cloud, left, and Mark Thompson, not in the photograph, kayak along the Kern River in Bakersfield.
Photo courtesy of Joe Taylor
Katie our 2 year old Australian Shepherd playing fetch in the shallow Kern River water west of the Stockdale Hwy. bridge. Katie will miss the water when it disappears.
Photo courtesy of Julie Fry
My children really enjoyed going to the river at Stockdale and Old River behind CPK and the Elephant Bar. We found a lot of poly wogs and tad pols. They enjoyed learning about them and visiting them through out the summer. The pictures of my children at the Kern river: Keturah age 9, Tidus age 6 and LydiaMae age 1.5
Photo courtesy of Bob Taylor
Spent the better part of this Spring and Summer traveling the bike path from the Sam Lynn Ball Park area west to Enos Lane. Here a few of the photos I took along the way. Taken just west of Chester Avenue.
Photo courtesy of Kris Delano
Rebekka Haas, dips her hands hands in cool River water near Yokuts park last summer.
Photo courtesy of Kris Delano
Kristi's shirt floats by Yokuts Park.
The Kern River had water this summer for the first time in years. The lure of cool, clear water brought residents to its shores every day. Not to mention egrets, ducks, cranes, hawks and even some osprey.
Water in the river took some of the edge off Bakersfield’s searing heat. For the brief time it was here, it gave us a living, breathing heart through the center of town.
And people loved it.
Following are just a few comments from some of those who enjoyed the river this summer.
A buddy and I kayaked the Kern River from Oak Street to Coffee Rd. There were a couple of low spots we had to walk our 'yaks, but the fun was still there on a hot day. It was a lazy day. Until we had to paddle back upstream towards Oak. That river has more of a current than appears. — Mark Thompson
Working mom, pre-school aged boys and an entire summer to fill. There were three or four of us moms who ventured to the river regularly with our kids. We found a small sandy island with ankle- to knee-high water (perfect for wee ones), made sand sculptures that stayed all summer and were sometimes enhanced by other river goers, but never destroyed. We picked up a lot of trash, but for the most part, everyone was respecting the river. — Kris DeLano
I didn’t get to spend time on the river this summer. However, I truly enjoyed watching residents enjoy it almost every day as I drove home from work. It’s so great seeing this in Bakersfield.
I actually saw what looked like someone in a kayak one day!
The river really made the area more pleasant. I hope we could have water year round some day and eventually FISHING in the river through Bakersfield! — Abel Fierro
I had a wonderful season enjoying the water in the City’s portion of the Kern River. On several occasions, I launched my stand up paddleboard (SUP) into the Kern River and paddled from Coffee Road to the new Mohawk bridge with my friend Rudy. SUPs allow you to explore flat water environments as well as surf in the ocean. It lets you “hike” on water. My experience of “hiking” this section of the Kern produced views and perspectives that renewed my appreciation of this wonderful community asset. — Harry Starkey, General Manager West Kern Water District
My children really enjoyed the river at Stockdale and Old River behind CPK and the Elephant Bar. We found a lot of polliwogs and tad pols. They enjoyed learning about them and visiting them through out the summer. — Julie Fry
This summer reminded me of summers when I was kid and the river ran year-round.
This summer I ran along the river as often as possible, to maximize my enjoyment of our city’s treasure.
Usually it is too hot and dry to bring the dogs but this summer my dog Mayzie became a river dog, hurrying to the water’s edge, splashing and cooling off. Many times my running group stopped to look at birds, tadpoles, toadlets and other wildlife. It was sad to watch the water dry up. It seems hotter without the water. There are fewer birds.
All of this reminds me how important it is that the city of Bakersfield make wise decisions when water contracts expire next year. We need water in our river. — Michelle Beck
As a runner I’m out along the river six days a week. It’s been an amazing experience this year to see the return of not only the vegetation along the river but also the wildlife. Watching the baby egrets learn to fly, and myriad other birds and animals in this natural environment has been a joy. — Don Martin
Spent the better part of this Spring and Summer traveling the bike path from the Sam Lynn Ball Park area west to Enos Lane. — Bob Taylor
I love it when there is water in the river. We as citizens of Bakersfield deserve to have water in our river.
We would take our dogs for a run through Yokuts park, stop by the river for some frolicking then proceed to Beach park and around and back to the river for more frolicking, then home!
When the river is flowing, there is more live vegetation and it seems to help the air smell fresher and I breathe easier.
Anyhoo...life is just sooo much better in Bakersfield with water in the river. — Linda Spofford
Earlier this year, when we still had snow on Mount Pinos near my home in Frazier Park, I wanted to get back on my mountain bike. After clearing it with my boss here in Bakersfield, I arranged to keep my bike at work to ride at lunchtime. The plan was to take the bike home once the snow melted, since it would be too hot to ride here.
I began exploring the trails along the Kern River including a seven mile loop on the dirt trails along the north side of the river. When the heat of summer kicked in, I would stop and immerse myself in the water for several minutes to cool off.
Water in the river was magical. Even in the summer heat, the bike ride and the endorphins became an every day addiction. Instead of spending my lunch hour at my desk and computer, I gained a new level of fitness and lost 20 pounds. — Kelly Mielke
I had two glorious times with my four grandchildren (two 7-year-olds and two 5-year-olds) on the river Kern, once in August and once in September.
The first time we went under the Calloway bridge and the second under the 24th street bridge and had a great time in the water.
The water under Calloway was shallow enough to wade, get wet, and do some exploring.
Under 24th street there was a pool wide and deep enough for them to swim, with the water flowing swiftly enough to be challenging and a shallow end not too far for them to get out should they get carried by the current.
The water was clear and cool and the bridge provided a shade when it got too hot.
The banks by Calloway were absolutely clean and the landscaped grounds behind the Castle and Cook building provided a beautiful backdrop. Not so with 24th street which was full of trash and soiled diapers. — David Losa
On several unforgettable afternoons this summer we made the short drive to Beach park, pumped up a couple inflatable tubes and launched into the knee deep clear cool running water, immediately to feel young again and actually enjoy the withering heat of Bakersfield.
The kids became Spanish explorers, seeing the river for the first time, wondering if the gold flecked sand held any other treasures.
A hundred yards later we were Yokuts Indians, splashing along the sandy river, planning our acorn main course and dessert, keeping a wary eye out for hunters and trappers (usually ambling along with their dogs).
On occasion we moved to the deeper section near the new bridge to swim against the current, all the while thinking how amazing this is to be within ten minutes drive and in OUR town.
Water in the river truly made our lives better this summer. Thank you to the skies for opening, thank you to the powers that be that allowed our river to flow in its proper path.
We hope for good wet springs and running river summers to come. — Jonathan Meyer
As the water levels grew in the Kern River this year, I often found myself shocked, staring off at the water as I exited the 99 at Rosedale Hwy. Seeing our fellow citizens splashing about and taking advantage of this cool respite for the first time was delightful.
With all the city pools and splash parks being closed, this natural alternative seems to be the best route for our ailing economy. I hope the water returns next year. — Jerry Meade
Some of our favorite memories this summer were of Katie, our 2 year old Australian Shepherd, playing fetch in the shallow Kern River water west of the Stockdale Hwy. bridge. Katie will miss the water. — Joe Taylor
I spent many days this summer sitting and pondering along the banks of the cool, wet Kern River. I pondered the question: “How can we get water flowing in the Kern River every summer?”
I walked slowly along the River's edge with my Labrador retriever. She loves getting wet, swimming and also pondering.
I observed families picnicking along the river at Yokuts Park. Bicyclists and horsemen enjoyed the tree shaded river trails.
I wondered how we could work together for water. We teach our children to share. Could we share water in the River?
When there is water in the Kern River I can always find a cool, quiet place to think. — Rich O’Neil, president of the Kern River Parkway Foundation.
O’Neil is hoping to create a citizen’s task force for ideas on how to get more water in the river and still have enough for agriculture. Anyone who’d like to join him is invited to call him at 837-4216.
