More than a dozen “friend of the court,” briefs have been filed with the state Supreme Court debating whether a local judge erred when he ordered that enough water be kept in the mostly dry Kern River bed through Bakersfield for fish. The Attorney General’s office, a slew of environmental and farm groups, along with far flung water districts, economic development agencies, fisheries groups and even a northern California tribe and crab boat association all weighed in on the fight for a flowing Kern River. The attention from such a wide array of groups reflects just how high-stakesthe outcome of this case will be as it involves constitutional questions that could affect water rights and conservation efforts on rivers throughout the state.

Other river rights news:

• Bay City News Service: Who owns the beaches on the Russian River?