Highwater on the Kern

I spent the Tehachapi paint out time with my family up at my son's cottages in Kernville.  Kernville is still part of Kern County and the paint out encompassed any part of Kern County so I chose to double dip.  We had a great time when we were together and I got to explore and spend time painting outdoors.  What could be better??

With the very unusual heavy rainfall and snowpack this year, the water in the Kern River was astounding.  In fact right in Kernville the river had overflowed the banks and washed away the walkways and some of the facilities in the Kernville Park.  

This scene was downriver from Lake Isabella.   The dam has finally been repaired and is safe, allowing the lake to be full.  Downriver the Kern rushes through the canyons on its way toward Bakersfield.  The authorities are trying to divert it a bit to avoid refilling the Tulare basin and flooding the rich farmland.