Residents intent on getting at least some water flowing in the Kern River through Bakersfield brought their concerns – and some pointed questions – to board members of the Kern County Water Agency on Thursday. “I don’t mean to be combative, but why is this board funding attorneys to keep water from going back into the river using public taxpayer dollars?” asked Chris Molina, with Bring Back the Kern, which is suing the City of Bakersfield over how it operates the Kern River. … Unlike agricultural water districts, which are funded and run by landowners within those districts, the Kern County Water Agency derives a large chunk of its funding through property taxes assessed to most of Kern County. Members of its board are elected by all voters within its five divisions, not just land holders.