KR3 DAMAGES River Aesthetics

ISSUE: After allowing for a small fish flow, Edison takes the next 600 cfs out of the river at Fairview Dam, dewatering 16 miles of the North Fork Kern. Fish flows may be so low as to make the river visually unappealing to the public.

OUR TAKE: We believe that minimum flows for the KR3 hydroproject are too low from an aesthetic standpoint. They leave the waterway narrowed, river banks emptied, small boulders exposed, pools shallowed and slowed, and riffles shortened or eliminated altogether. The Wild and Scenic North Fork Kern — and those who love it and are amazed by it — deserve better.

DETAILS:

• More than half the time, there is more water in the KR3 tunnels than in the 16 miles of river it dewaters

• Although natural flows on the NF Kern only fall below 150 cfs 14% of the time, KR3 takes so much water that flows below Fairview Dam are forced below 150 cfs 77% of the time — and below a paltry 50 cfs 32% of the time

• It’s not surprising that turning low flows from a very rare occurrence into a routine state of affairs would have negative visual effects on a river.

• Fish flows for KR3 are 100 cfs or less for 10 months out of the year, every year — and go down to 40 cfs for four months every year.

• Research tells us that “professional” judgments on river aesthetics fail to match those of the general public.

• In the last licensing proceeding (1996), USFS acknowledged that KR3’s effect on the North Fork Kern’s visual resources was a legitimate issue, but one that was brought up “too late” in the process to be addressed. KRB brought this issue up at the earliest possible time in this proceeding.

• Visually unappealing flows negatively affect Kern River Valley residents and visitors.

• Increased flows for aesthetics would also bring positive effects for the riverine ecosystem, the sustainability of the fishery, the health of humans in the river, and opportunities for recreation.

EDISON’S RESPONSE: According to Edison, “there is no evidence of a problem” with river aesthetics.

HOW TO HELP: Tell FERC (click link for instructions):

1. Who you are and how much you love the North Fork Kern;

2. You think the KR3 diversion leaves flows below Fairview Dam so low that the river looks sad, or neglected, or barren — so low that it no longer looks like the beautiful river you know and love. You can’t take water out of the river and make flows that almost never occur (like those below 125 cfs) into a typical occurrence without negatively affecting the visual character of this river.

3. You support radically increased minimum flows on the North Fork Kern for aesthetics: make it look like a healthy river again!

The Extra Mile: Tell the Forest Service the same things.

GO DEEPER: Read KRB’s “Aesthetic Flows” Study Request.

We also have teed up information about five other areas in which KR3 harms our river, the natural environment, and the human environment:

Angling ºº Environment ºº Health ºº Whitewater ºº Safety

Please have a look at these resource topics and send your views on them issues to FERC and other managing agencies. Do not simply assume the agencies will resolve these issues in the public’s favor; they have failed in the past and Edison is well funded and politically connected. Speak up now for yourselves and the future. Please consider following our Free The Kern Facebook campaign page. Together, we can Free The Kern.