Kern River Archives

California Supreme court declines to get involved in meandering Kern River case

August 19, 2024

• by Lois Henry

The California Supreme Court, on Aug. 14, declined to review an objection by plaintiffs in the Kern River lawsuit to a lower court’s ruling that paused an order requiring water flows through Bakersfield. That means the 5th District Court of Appeal will continue toward a hearing on whether the order was appropriate and the other…

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Judge keeps Kern River case to just one defendant – the City of Bakersfield

August 6, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp on Tuesday denied the City of Bakersfield’s request to add defendants to the ongoing Kern River lawsuit. The city had asked that several agricultural water districts with rights to Kern River water be added as defendants as opposed to “real parties in interest.” As real parties in interest,…

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Judge considering whether to bring in more defendants on the Kern River case

August 2, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Combatants over the Kern River met in court again Thursday to argue over the City of Bakersfield’s motion seeking an order to compel the plaintiffs to bring in all the rights holders as defendants. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp told the phalanx of attorneys on Thursday he would consider the arguments but did…

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Energy storage project above Isabella Lake is back on the table, along with two other similar proposals

July 12, 2024

• by Lois Henry

A roundly castigated proposal to build a holding reservoir above Isabella Lake in order to pump water up from the lake and run it back down through turbines for power – known as pumped energy storage – is back. And it brought friends. There are now three pumped energy storage proposals in Kern County, including…

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Authors advocate generational thinking to manage water in the southern San Joaquin Valley

July 11, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Two college buddies who spent a day fly fishing on the Sacramento River came home with more than fish tales. For retired city planners Greg Collins and James Holloway, it prompted a new book, “Seven Generations: The Past, Present and Future of the Tulare Lake Basin,” published in May. This might beg the question, what…

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Appeal of order to keep water in the Kern River moves forward

July 3, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Agricultural water districts with rights to the Kern River filed an opening brief recently on their appeal of a local judge’s order last fall to keep enough water in the river for fish. The water districts insist that when Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp issued a preliminary injunction to keep water in the river,…

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Petition asks California’s highest court to wade into Kern River legal fracas

June 12, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit over the Kern River filed a petition asking the California Supreme Court to review an order that tossed out an injunction many had anticipated would guarantee a flowing river through Bakersfield. Specifically, the petition asks the Supreme Court to direct the 5th District Court of Appeal to explain why it stayed…

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Isabella Dam construction project lauded by national award

June 11, 2024

• by SJV Water

The United States Army Corps of Engineers received a national award for safety, innovation and resourcefulness for its design and execution of the reconstruction of the Isabella Dam complex, according to a press release from the Army Corps. The $650-million project that succeeded in taking Isabella Dam off the Army Corps’ list as one of…

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Rehearing on Kern River rejected by appellate court. Next step could be the California Supreme Court

May 24, 2024

• by Lois Henry

The 5th District Court of Appeal denied a petition Friday to rehear the court’s earlier decision to put a hold on a Kern County court’s order that had required the City of Bakersfield keep enough water in the Kern River for fish to survive. Both plaintiffs in the action have said they will likely petition…

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Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

May 9, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Further legal action on the Kern River was put on pause Thursday morning following an order by the 5th District Court of Appeal that stayed a local injunction mandating enough water be kept in the river for fish. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp said the 5th District’s order that stayed his earlier injunction…

NEWS

California Supreme court declines to get involved in meandering Kern River case

Judge keeps Kern River case to just one defendant – the City of Bakersfield

Judge considering whether to bring in more defendants on the Kern River case

Energy storage project above Isabella Lake is back on the table, along with two other similar proposals

Authors advocate generational thinking to manage water in the southern San Joaquin Valley

Appeal of order to keep water in the Kern River moves forward

Petition asks California’s highest court to wade into Kern River legal fracas

Isabella Dam construction project lauded by national award

Rehearing on Kern River rejected by appellate court. Next step could be the California Supreme Court

Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

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