Notice those Kern flows?

[Gary C.]

It's gone up to almost 5,000cfs in just the last day and a half, suppose the fishing is off just a little?

[fflutterffly]

Amazing! almost 8K. I remember one year it went up to 10k and was only 1' from the top of the bridge.... or at least it looked like it was only 1". I guess Guy will have some side water to guide this winter. I don't think a drift will be possible for a while. It certainly will change the profile of the bottom with the force it's running.

Does anyone actually have the record breaking CFS for the Kern?

[WanderingBlues]

Wow! I'd believe it. It's been raining up here like crazy.

[John Harper]

Where are all those tough guy wet waders, get out there!!!

John

[Bakoguy]

Does anyone actually have the record breaking CFS for the Kern?

I believe the answer is 33,600 cfs on the North Fork. It may be 36,000 cfs. Below the Dam it has been as high as 45,000 I believe but of course that was a controlled discharge. As to the year I'm not so sure.

[Benny]

This was the highest I could find, which by no means, is no joke. I could only go back as far as 1996 on the flow chart history. I heard of a big flood but not sure of the date which supposedly had flows of 36K+ cfs.
January 3 1997 the flows peaked at 32,252 cfs
November 8, 2002 flows peaked at 26,504 cfs

[Rockstar Fisherman]

The river is full under the 99 bridge. Haven't seen that much water in it in a long time. I think the upper flows right now surpass the high spring runoff for this year. I think I may have to take a drive up and have take a look and pics.


Actually on second thought I better not. Odds are the road is closed or will eventually close due to rockslides.

[Gary C.]

I can't remember the details but the worst flood was in the early 60's. The river went above the bridge and actually took it out. It happened because there was a large snowpack and an even bigger tropical storm than this one came through and melted the snow almost overnight. I'm sure there is some information that can be found online and there has been a few articles the last few years in the Kern Valley Sun. The damage was huge all along the Kern and the South Fork bridge was also taken out at the same time. I don't remember how for long but it seems that it was some time before access east of the bridge could be had and even longer for the communities upstream.

[Benny]

Woohoo 13,359cfs it's dumping big time up that way!

[Gary C.]

I guess that the flood was in 1966. It is referred to as a 100yr flood because simular floods happen about every 100yrs. There is another big flood mentioned in the late 1800's.

I have not found any good articles about it but I did find this.
There was a tremedous rainfall in December of 1966. Reports out of Johnsondale said that over 24 inches of rain had fallen during the 24 hour period from Sunday, December 4th through Monday, December 5th. Johnsondale was flooded, the road from Camp to Kernville was closed from a large slide and a portion washed away by the Kern River. Kernville was flooded and the North Fork bridge at Kernville was washed away. There is a picture of Lake Ida during the flood, the rocks on either side of the dam were completely submerged and Hopi campsite was underwater. The river flow in Kernville at the peak of the flood, was estimated to be over 100,000 cfs (cubic feet per second - 500 times normal). Lake Isabella went from about 100,000 acre feet to over 314,000 acre feet in two days.

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Just read on the Kern site that they will actually be posting some pics of the water levels. Hopefully they follow through..... Crazy weather, I'm diggin it, also keep an eye out for carp on the road near the Arvin golf course. It does happen according to my brother and dad.


Right now the flows on the Upper Kern are higher than the Colorado River below Powell, Hoover and Davis dams.

http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/edits/lake_levels.shtml

[fly addict]

Check out this webcam on the Kern.
http://bullrun2.viewnetcam.com:60003/Cg ... ion&Langua
Guy say's the campgrounds in town are underwater in town and all roads in to the valley are closed.

Mark

[fflutterffly]

Are you speaking of Frandies Campground? I would imagine the flows over took that river-level destination.

[RSetina]

Do you think I could catch some fish if I used an anchor as the dropper?

[Benny]

That's a whole lot of water flowing 18,029cfs. It's really nice when flows get this high, the river gets a nice cleaning.