Corps of Engineers calls for new dam construction

Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Ronn Rose, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dam Safety Assurance Program Officer, announced the Corps’ call for construction of a new Isabella Dam at the the Oct. 1 meeting of Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) in Kernville.

Rose gave a PowerPoint presentation about the Corps’ findings on their studies of Isabella Dam, the southernmost dam in the Sacramento district. Rose explained that the need for a replacement dam is due to three main deficiencies in the existing Auxiliary and Main dams: the spillway is undersized and the dam could overtop; several new faults have been discovered since the dams were built thus creating seismic concerns, including the Kern Canyon fault which runs perpendicular through the center of the two dams; and the seepage issue which includes the lack of internal drains and conduit in alluvium. “How your dam was constructed is exactly how we would not construct a dam today,” explained Rose, “But those were the standards of the time.”

Isabella Dam was found to be the most at-risk dam in the nation two years ago after it was determined that it had the largest possible loss of life in a worst-case scenario failure. In fact, if the dam were to fail, it is estimated that more than 300,000 lives could be lost from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield. Although there is only a one percent chance for flood each year, the Corps of Engineers is not willing to take that chance, and are now determining the best spot to build. “This is going to be huge; a complete remediation,” said Rose, “We are going to need a completely new replacement dam.”

Large Scale Development to Replace Orange Groves

The Kern County Planning Department released an Environmental Impact Report on Sept. 29, regarding the impacts of tearing out 1,863 acres of privately-owned orange groves at the mouth of the canyon to build 4,688 tract homes and other uses. Some concerns raised at the KRVR meeting were water use, destruction of agricultural land, and traffic issues that will occur as a result of so many new residences being built at the entry point of the Kern Valley. The Kern County Planning Department is currently seeking public comment about this project until Nov. 12. For a copy of the EIR and additional information on this issue, visit KRVR.org and search for Rio Bravo EIR.

Kern Valley Healthcare District Update

Jeanette Rogers announced that morale of personnel and administration at Kern Valley Hospital is higher than she has seen in her 11 years with the district. They are hopeful that a new bond initiative for the necessary earthquake safety retrofitting will be accepted by the Kern Valley community in 2009. The district’s Peddler’s Faire and Senior Summer Health Faire were both great successes, with record attendance at each. Rogers thanked the media of both the Kern Valley and Bakersfield for the excellent coverage they provided, and said that they are picking up a lot more interest from the Bakersfield area for these events. According to Rogers, several Bakersfield residents said that these events showed the “best interactions with other programs they had ever seen, and they wished they had the same sort of collaboration in Bakersfield.”

Whiskey Flat Days Planning has Begun

Cheryl Borthick, President of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, announced that the Chamber held their first 2009 Whiskey Flat Days planning meeting on Sept. 26, where 27 volunteers attended to pitch in. Next year’s WFD grand marshals will be Jim Scott and Robin Mangarin from Channel 17 News in Bakersfield, who always give such excellent coverage of the event; the theme will be “Everything Old is News Again.” Borthick also announced that the Chamber has secured a “new” restroom in Circle Park near the new information kiosk.

Senior Sack Program Coming to Lake Isabella

Starting this month, the Highland Chapel/United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Golden Empire Gleaners, will distribute food to low-income seniors in the Kern Valley the first and third Friday of each month at 11 a.m. at their chapel located at 5301 Lake Isabella Blvd. Sacks include at least 10 items including fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, snack items, and staples. Each site is run by volunteers who prepare the individual food orders from the food shipments delivered by the Gleaners, and is meant to be both a food relief program and encouragement of social interaction for seniors, and most sites offer refreshments and a chance for socializing. There is a one-time $2 registration fee which is split between the site and the Gleaners to offset the cost of paperwork. Contact Highland Chapel/United Methodist at 379-2120 for details on income qualifications and process for registering.

U.S.O. Show Free to Service Personnel

The Kern Valley Rotary Club will be presenting a Stage Door Canteen U.S.O. dinner and dance on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Lake Isabella Senior Center. The event will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by a fried chicken dinner provided by Jim Wyly of Mt. Mesa Market and served by the E.C.H.O. Academy students of Kern Valley High School. The event will include live entertainment of 40s and 50s music and a special presentation honoring all men and women of the armed forces (past and present). The event is free to all service personnel who RSVP to Jeanette at 376-4419 or 417-2555, and $12 per non-veteran. Tickets can be purchased at the Kern Valley Sun, Kern River Courier, Kernville Chamber of Commerce, and directly from Jeanette Rogers.

KRVR meets the first Wednesday of every month, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m. at the Kernville Chamber Building. For more information, visit www.krvr.org.

KRVR is a collaboration of local agencies, business owners, and concerned citizens working to facilitate the social, natural, and financial health of the KRV for this and future generations. Everyone in the Kern Valley is invited to come share their ideas at the Community meetings, as everyone who lives here is a stakeholder in our community’s future.