The City of Bakersfield pledged to run some of its Kern River water down the normally dry river bed through town at least until July 30th this year. While it lasts, the Kern River Parkway Foundation and Bring Back the Kern are hoping to draw attention to the difference a little water makes in the river bed by holding “Sunsets on the River” events at Yokuts Park each Thursday through the rest of the month. … Bring Back the Kern, along with Water Audit California, sued Bakersfield in 2022 seeking to have river operations studied under the Public Trust Doctrine, which requires water be used to the greatest public benefit, including for the environment and recreation. A portion of that lawsuit may be heard by the California Supreme Court in September, while the main lawsuit is scheduled to come back to court in February 2027. In the meantime, Bring Back the Kern hopes to take full advantage of the temporarily flowing river.

Other water rights and supply news:

• The Mendocino Voice (Calif.): Ukiah has plenty of water — the Ukiah Valley doesn’t
• SFGate: Oceanfront California rest stop runs out of water for second year in a row