Ten more people lost to the Kern River in the past year, authorities warn
Ten more people perished or went missing in the Kern River during the past year, according to authorities who updated the physical toll Thursday at the mouth of canyon trail.
The deceptively beautiful stretch of river that runs from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield has claimed 335 lives since officials started counting in 1968. Authorities say visitors, mainly from the Los Angeles area, often brush off the signs warning of danger: swift undercurrents, debris and jagged rocks that can trap and knock unconscious even the strongest swimmer.
Of the 10 added, eight are from outside Kern County.
“We have a huge population of people from out of the county, along with Kern County residents, that come to the river to cool off,” Kern County Sheriff’s search and rescue Sgt. Paul Saldana said.
To deter swimming in the river during the high-swell months, a sign located at the mouth of the Kern Canyon greets oncoming traffic to the canyon at the edge of the Sequoia National Forest. A new tally was affixed Thursday ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. The new total is a slight uptick from last May, when the sign was updated from 317 to 325 deaths between 2022 and 2023.
All but two are presumed drowned, their bodies still in the river or lost in the brush. Searches can span several days to months, and involve the use of drones, helicopters and rafts that criss-cross the canyon.
Authorities say there is little they can do to prevent the drownings, other than educate and warn the public. Flyers are distributed by patrolling staff in both English and Spanish that say “use your head or lose your life.” Ads are placed in newspapers and other media from Bakersfield to Los Angeles.
Despite the danger, the hot summer weather and the river’s postcard views entice many of the visitors who flock there each year to camp, fish and raft along the white waters. Those who brave the rapids must wear life preservers and helmets, Saldana said.
“But you’d be much safer just staying out,” he added.
Flows lately are at 3,400 cubic feet per second — more than third of last year’s figures, when the county experienced record rainfall that preceded also-record levels of snowmelt along the Sierra Range. But flows are expected to ramp up starting this month through July as the snow starts to melt and descend downriver, Saldana said.
According to the California Office of Emergency Services, it is the shock of cold water that can stun even the strongest swimmers, leaving them near defenseless to undercurrents and debris they can collide with in the fast-flowing water.
If someone is in danger, authorities say to call 911 immediately. Important details include descriptions of what somebody is wearing and where along the river they slipped in.
