Rowingers carry rafts for 16 miles to protest how hydropower soaks the Cohen River

Kernville, CA – It begins a typical white water rafting trip like the Kern River North Fork. Rowingers rowed in the stirring rapids, slid across the boulders and crashed into the car while breaking the waves.

But a few miles later, as they approached the dam, the group drifted to the bank, lifted the blue raft from the water and began an eight-hour journey on land.

Their plan: to carry out an unusual protest by walking the raft 16 miles beside a river, occupying most of the water on the dam and placing it on a river that is re-arranged far downstream.

“There is no 16 miles on that river that can't run on a boat,” said Jonathan Yates, an avid kayaker who organized the protests. “There is not enough water in the river.”

As six crew members set off on the road beside the Fairview Dam in late June, about three-quarters of the river was transferred into the tunnel and drove through a pipeline winding along the steep canyon to the Kern River 3 Aquatic Products Factory in Edison, Southern California.

Tubers enjoy up the river up the Kern River on a summer night in Kernville, California.

The water poured onto the Fairview Dam, where the stream was transferred from the Kern River to the hydropower.

With flowing water turbines generating electricity, rivers between dams and power plants are often lowered to shallow streams between boulders.

Yates and other whitewater enthusiasts, including some who run rafting businesses, demanded changes to the hydropower plant's business in order to leave more water in the river. They called for measures to ensure Edison tried to row the boat Renew its license Hydropower plants from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Reflected here in the show, Jonathan Yates is a fanatical kayak that organizes protests.

Yates said he came up with the idea of ​​a marathon port to raise awareness of river water shortages and invited several friends and acquaintances to join him.

“Usually you'll just put a small portion of the river around a fast, unpassable river, maybe a waterfall or something,” he said. “But we want to do that.”

The team slid the belt over the shoulder to help support the raft, weighing about 100 pounds. Towing a boat would create a difficult slogan, they said, but they were ready to sacrifice for their cause.

“We are willing to suffer, experience prolonged discomfort and pain to convey the importance of the Kern River and how much we care about it,” Yates said.

At the power plant outside the town of Kernville, one of two hydroelectric facilities operated by Edison on the river, was built in 1921 and its current federal permit will expire in November 2026.

The Federal Commission’s decision on the new permit will set flow rules and determine whether there are requirements for maintaining large flows in the river to support boating and fishing. If the Commission sets new terms for improving flow, more Kern River rapids may be opened up longer each year and bring good news to boatmen and whitewater rafting businesses.

Julianne Finch (left) and Kate Adamson (right) looked at a map and then did a white water rafting on the Upper Kern River.

Omar Ramírez got off in a van and embarked on an eight-hour journey with a raft next to the Kern River.

Managers in Edison, Southern California, said they understand the importance of retaining river recreational uses and are being incorporated into community opinions as the company experiences.

“Our goal is to ensure future licensing terms to preserve natural habitat and recreational resources,” said Jeff Monford, an Edison spokesman, “and balance beneficial uses, including hydropower, and comply with regulatory requirements and operational agreements.”

The snow melting Kern in southern Nevada is a mecca of boating and trout fishing that attracts visitors from nearby Southern California cities and tourists from around the world. The river section affected by plant transfer is one of the various sections of Kern and is popular on rafting and kayaking.

A group of sons followed their path along the Lower Kern River below Lake Isabella.

About a month ago, aftermath and kayakers were jetting in popular rapids here, including Black Bottom Falls, Squeeze Padders and Fender Bender. But as power plants moved to a portion of Kern's flow reduction in late June, which often happened, the levels of river water dropped to the point where ships could no longer be able to cross the rock.

Chris Brown, co-owner of the drifting business Baishui Navigationlooking at a part of the stream that was rafted a month ago.

“It's very fast,” Brown said. “It's been unsuccessful for most of the year, and it's shameful because it's absolutely world-class.”

Last month, afters paddles crossed the rapids on the Upper Kerr River.

Kern's North Fork is a federally designated wild and scenic river. Brown said having more water in this part of the river will help the local economy and expand recreational opportunities in Southern California.

Brown provided a raft for the group's protests, then took a van along one van while the other flashed with emergency lights. When the car passes, some people tweet, wave or thumb outward.

“These guys are doing an incredible physical feat to show how valuable this resource is to them,” Brown said.

James Boster, a part-time river guide who helps carry the raft, says they just pass by a location where his favorite rapids form when there is enough water.

“It's a smooth, glassy tongue, and this absolutely gorgeous waterfall,” Bowster said. “I'm so happy to be part of it trying to keep more water in its natural, scheduled running water.”

The rowers took the raft to the launch point on the Upper Kerr River.

With the mileage starting up, the temperature approaching 100 degrees, the six raft carriers were mostly optimistic, joked about their upcoming soreness and if the raft was full of helium.

They play music on the speakers, listen to AC/DC, green day and red peppers.

“Suffering loves the company. We will keep our spirits up,” Yates said.

The group stopped to rest and sat at the picnic table under the shade of the willow trees.

Blisters under the feet of Julianne Finch, Bakersfield financial adviser.

Omar Ramírez, also from Bakersfield, said he has been enjoying the refreshing river pools that swim.

Several people wet their shirts on the river and put them back in place. They lifted the raft and continued their journey.

“I've reached that point and I'm going to endure it,” Juan Vargas said while driving on the Mountain 99 Highway.

Six boatmen leaned the raft near the Fairview Dam and began a 16-mile harbor to protest the flow of water, which usually left Kern River streaks with a section of unusable white water rafting.

Under the river in Kernville, several residents said they also want to see changes in permits to ensure the river flows for boating and fishing.

“We're not going to Edison remove the dam and move it away,” said Gary Ananian, founder of the nonprofit Kern River Conservation Association. “It benefits wildlife, fish, and everyone who uses it for boating and fishing. ”

Dan Ocampo, a fly fishing guide and store manager for kayaks, said he hopes the science focuses on improving the different types of trout conditions in the ecosystem, where anglers fish into the area, including California golden trout.

“It would be nice to have more water fishing,” Ocampo said. “I hope they implement more scientific methods, which is the balance of water flow, water temperature, just figuring out the ecosystem to make it balanced and better fishing.”

Monford said Southern California Edison is committed to working with people in the community, including anglers, and balancing the interests of all stakeholders while setting terms for the plant’s ongoing operation “so we can provide reliable clean energy, which is crucial to the growing demand in California.”

Store Manager and Fishing Guide Dan Ocampo points to fishing locations along the Kern River on the map outside the Kern River.

A map shows a section of the Cohen River.

The Kern River 3 hydropower project has a power generation capacity of 40.2 MW, enough to provide about 48,000 homes.

If the water is significantly reduced, it may rumble in this part of the river for two months each year, rowers say.

Some rowers suggest that the company might consider running the power plant at night and leaving water in the river during the day.

The Kern River 3 hydropower project is located on the upper river north of Kernville.

But the plant and its generation units are not designed for such date designs, Monford said, “but provide predictable and stable resources for grid reliability.” If this approach is adopted, he said, this would “cause increased wear of the equipment, thereby increasing operation, maintenance and repair costs.”

Monford said Edison has been conducting extensive research on the needs of boating and integrating community input into his program.

“One of our research shows that rowers need better predictability in addition to wider traffic,” Monford said. “One way we address this is to recommend a fixed 10-day maintenance interruption period to our regulators, which will take projects offline with a more predictable schedule and opportunity to support rowing.”

Arriving at the last section of the gear, the group drove across the hill along the power plant and its huge pipeline. They then headed toward the river, and the speakers boasted about AC/DC’s “highway to hell.”

“I may have no feet anymore,” Finch said as he looked at Lim.

They were sweating sorely that they finally put down the raft on the river bank and posed for photos. They cracked open beer from the cooler.

Then, a few jumped into the river.

Kate Adamson and center Julianne Finch calmed down on the Kern River, holding a 16-mile raft on the land, protesting, demanding more water in the river.

“It's probably the craziest thing I've ever done,” said high school biology teacher Kate Adamson. “I got sunburned. I was thirsty. I felt nothing, but everything was hurt at the same time. …I need an ice bath!”

Adamson sat on the trailer on board and said the soreness was worth it because she believed in the reasons for prioritizing more water in the river.

“There is a protest like this, which shows that people can change the advocates of the community by doing some effort, but people will stop and look,” she said. “It’s neat to be a part of it.”