Kern River County Park dam
Kern River County Park
Nestled in Kern County, California, Kern River County Park, also known as Ming Lake, serves as a vital water supply resource for the city of Bakersfield. This local government-owned park sits along the picturesque Tr Kern River, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. The earth dam, standing at a height of 24 feet and completed in 1959, boasts a storage capacity of 790 acre-feet, providing essential water for the region.
With a primary purpose of water supply, Kern River County Park also caters to recreational activities, making it a versatile destination for residents and visitors. The dam's high hazard potential is managed effectively, with regular inspections ensuring its satisfactory condition and safety. As a regulated and permitted site under the oversight of the Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, visitors can rest assured of the park's compliance with state regulations and enforcement measures.
As part of the Sacramento District, Kern River County Park stands as a testament to sustainable water management practices in California. Whether one seeks a tranquil retreat by the river or a deeper understanding of water infrastructure, this park offers a blend of natural beauty and engineering marvels that will captivate the minds of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Kern River County Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Fountain Springs Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Reservation Bndry Nr Porterville Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Cholollo Campground Nr Porterville Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Sf Kern R Nr Onyx Ca | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kern River County Park.
Boat launches
- Lake Ming Road 13375, Bakersfield
- Democrat Raft Take-Out Boating Site
- Delonegha River Access Boating Site
- Kern Canyon Road Bodfish
- Miracle Hot Springs Picnic Site
- Sandy Flat Put-In/Take-Out Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Kern River Camp Ground. Bakersfield
- Camp Okihi. Bakersfield
- Kern River Park
- Oak Flat Lookout/Cabin
- Breckenridge
- Breckenridge Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 20.2 Miles Downstream Of Isabella Dam To Western Nf Boundary
- 7 Miles From Isabella Dam To 20.2 Miles From Isabella Dam
- Sandy Flat Camp To Democrat Picnic Area
- Isabella Lake Dam To 7 Miles Downstream
- Southern Boundary Of Wsr To Nf Boundary
- Camp Wishon To Confluence With Middle Fork Tule River
Track Kern River County Park in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Kern River County Park
Where does the data for Kern River County Park come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Kern River County Park.