05/31/2006-  Flows on the Kern are amazing right now with the upper Kern (Forks, Thunder Run, Limestone, Chamise Gorge, and Ant Canyon) flowing at around 3500-4000 cfs.  Weather lately has been relatively cool making the runoff last a little bit longer by bringing the flows way under what the peak was about 2 weeks ago.  The upper Kern peaked 2 times this year at about 7500 CFS. 

The creeks are still running too, Brush Creek has been flowing in the 3-4 range for the past week, expect it to possibly come up one more time with the HOT weather that is soon to hit us this next weekend.  Then expect the flows to rise a bit before it plunges again. 

The Lower Kern has had an epic beginning for the season, with flows running at 4500 CFS, which havent been seen since the summer of 1998.  Lake Isabella's Auxillary dam is currently being monitored for abnormal seepage of water, and due to a safety concern, Army Corps of Engineers have taken control of the dam as they try to keep the lake level from rising too much for fear of the dam failing. 

Please remember, water levels are amazingly high right now so use extreme caution when boating and always be prepared for the unexpected changes in river conditions....Now get out there and get your pull on!

The Kern is runnable at nearly all flows. The minimal you really would want to run anything is about 150 cfs. You can run it up to any level as well.
Check out www.sierrasouth.com  for all the new equipment that is out there and for flows and weather on the Kern
and www.dreamflows.com  for any other western regional flows.