BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 The City of Bakersfield water department announced water back will be back in the Kern River in Bakersfield for this summer. This comes as years of a dry river has been prominent in the city.<\/p>\n
Today, the Kern River is bone dry, but that could change, according to Bakersfield\u2019s water department.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a fortunate year, we anticipate running the river beginning on May 1, 2026 and lasting at least six weeks,\u201d said Daniel Maldonado, the Assistant Water Director at the city\u2019s water resources.<\/p>\n
Watch \u2018After Sunrise\u2019 on KGET+; Click to learn how to get KGET+ on your smart TV devices <\/a><\/p>\n At least six weeks, but it could last five months according city water officials.<\/p>\n Why has this year been fortunate? Snowpack.<\/p>\n The snow-capped mountains surrounding our valley had snow melt, allowing the city additional river water.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of California it\u2019s pretty dismal the snowpack however we\u2019ve been fortunate on the Kern river our snow basin is average,\u201d said Maldonado.<\/p>\n As the snow melts, water rushes down the mountain and fills the Kern River, but it gets diverted to farms just past Hart Park. This will be the first time water has been in the river in town for so long.<\/p>\n \u201cThe water flowing down the river it\u2019s a sight to see, you can see it in different areas driving through town,\u201d said Maldonado.<\/p>\n Environmentalists are happy too, but the fight to bring back the Kern River and to keep the flow alive is still ongoing.<\/p>\n