After suffering water damage from high flows of the Kern River, a weir in west Bakersfield is now operational again, reducing the risk of floods. Officials celebrated the reopening with a special ceremony, honoring engineer Richard Meyer, who played a key role in the project.
The weir, located just east of Coffee Road off Truxtun Avenue, had been non-functional since 2023. Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh attended the event, expressing her satisfaction with the project.
Meyer, who has been working on water projects for over 50 years, designed the weir and said it went as smoothly as most of his projects.
“So this weir acts as a river dam to back up the water so the water can be diverted through what we call the river canal, out west and to other agencies,” Meyer explained.
The new structure, which cost about $5.5 million with $1.3 million funded by grants, features automated gates to efficiently manage water flows and reduce flood risk. It also includes a path for bikes and pedestrians to cross the Kern River. Daniel Maldonado, the city’s assistant water director, provided the financial details.
Officials surprised Meyer with an award, acknowledging his leadership in numerous Kern County projects.
Meyer expressed his gratitude, saying, “That speaks to the graciousness of city staff, particularly city water. They’re a wonderful team. It’s terrific working with them. They know what they need. They know how to operate this river well. And so the accolades really belong to them.”
Richard Meyer, left, stands with his son Aaron Meyer of Meyer Civil Engineering after the ceremony.{ }(Steve Virgen, KBAK/KBFX)
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The project was more than five years in the making, marking a significant milestone for Bakersfield and Kern County.