Water levels in the lower Kern River are lower than many people in the area can remember. Without water, many businesses in Kernville and Lake Isabella are looking at an economic hit this summer.
Kernville's economy relies heavily on income from tourism and recreation. The low water levels mean some business owners will be left without a paddle this summer.
Video from last year shows what many tourists want to do for a fun vacation. But this year, many will have to make other plans because the water level in the lower Kern River is the lowest in 40 years.
"If someone were to go on the lower Kern right now, they would bump into a lot of rocks." Rhonda Stallone and her husband John have owned Mountain River Adventures in Kernville for 25 years. Normally, they have up to 90 people rafting down the lower Kern every day. But this year, that's not going to happen.
"This is an unprecedented year in that we can't run in and have runnable levels,” Stallone said. “There is water. The Watermaster tells us their facilities down below are not set up so that we could run our trips in the morning and farmers still get their water."
Drought, warm temperatures, and water allocation all contribute to the lower Kern levels.
Stallone's business offers recreational options besides rafting, but others aren't so lucky.
Cheryl Borthick, President of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, says many are closing up shop for the summer.
"There probably won't be much whitewater rafting after Memorial Day so they've laid off their employees,” Borthick said. “There have been many people who have lost their jobs and that is our main concern with the economy."
Borthick is not only the president of Kernville's Chamber of Commerce, she also owns Cheryl's Diner. Local motels and restaurants like hers should expect to see a decline in revenue because of the lack of water.
"It is affecting all of us,” Borthick said. ”Not just motels and restaurants, but the supermarkets, the gas stations. We feel like it's a grave impact to this community."
Mountain River Adventures will still offer runs on the upper Kern as well as paddle boating, camping and rock climbing for the summertime.
Kernville's economy relies heavily on income from tourism and recreation. The low water levels mean some business owners will be left without a paddle this summer.
Video from last year shows what many tourists want to do for a fun vacation. But this year, many will have to make other plans because the water level in the lower Kern River is the lowest in 40 years.
"If someone were to go on the lower Kern right now, they would bump into a lot of rocks." Rhonda Stallone and her husband John have owned Mountain River Adventures in Kernville for 25 years. Normally, they have up to 90 people rafting down the lower Kern every day. But this year, that's not going to happen.
"This is an unprecedented year in that we can't run in and have runnable levels,” Stallone said. “There is water. The Watermaster tells us their facilities down below are not set up so that we could run our trips in the morning and farmers still get their water."
Drought, warm temperatures, and water allocation all contribute to the lower Kern levels.
Stallone's business offers recreational options besides rafting, but others aren't so lucky.
Cheryl Borthick, President of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, says many are closing up shop for the summer.
"There probably won't be much whitewater rafting after Memorial Day so they've laid off their employees,” Borthick said. “There have been many people who have lost their jobs and that is our main concern with the economy."
Borthick is not only the president of Kernville's Chamber of Commerce, she also owns Cheryl's Diner. Local motels and restaurants like hers should expect to see a decline in revenue because of the lack of water.
"It is affecting all of us,” Borthick said. ”Not just motels and restaurants, but the supermarkets, the gas stations. We feel like it's a grave impact to this community."
Mountain River Adventures will still offer runs on the upper Kern as well as paddle boating, camping and rock climbing for the summertime.