Outfitters on the Kern River in California faced another year of dismally low flows
7/2/2015 10:05:18 AM
CATEGORIES:
Business & Industry
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Kern County, CA
Start Date: 5/1/2015
- End Date: 8/31/2015
Outfitters on the Kern River faced another year of dismally low flows at 10 percent of normal, cramping business plans while stimulating business owners to come up with new activities to bring in a few dollars. Some businesses have closed and await a better year. River’s End Rafting & Adventure on the lower Kern River closed for the 2015 season, leaving its 20 employees to seek work elsewhere. The rafting business owner tried running an adventure camp for kids in 2014 and an “amphibian” land-and-water 5K, but lost money despite his creative effort.
On the upper Kern River, some rafting companies were offering scenic kayak trips and stand-up paddle board lessons. In Kernville, Sierra South Paddle Sports only sees up to 150 customers per day, in comparison with better years when 600 to 700 people would navigate the river per day. What used to be an exhilarating 20-mile trip has become a lazy three-mile drift relying more on kayaks rather than inflatable rafts.
Los Angeles Times, June 30, 2015
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