South Fork Kern River

South Fork Kern River
Headwaters of the South Fork Kern River in Tulare County
Map showing the Kern River and the South Fork Kern River (to the east of the main stem)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionInyo County, Tulare County, Kern County
CitiesOnyx, Weldon
Physical characteristics
SourceSouthwest side of unnamed peak
 • locationnear Horseshoe Meadow, Inyo National Forest, Tulare County
 • coordinates36°25′55″N 118°12′48″W / 36.43194°N 118.21333°W / 36.43194; -118.21333[1]
 • elevation10,850 ft (3,310 m)
MouthLake Isabella
 • location
Mountain Mesa, Kern County
 • coordinates
35°39′34″N 118°27′51″W / 35.65944°N 118.46417°W / 35.65944; -118.46417
 • elevation
2,490 ft (760 m)[1]
Length95 mi (153 km), North-south[2]
Basin size982 sq mi (2,540 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationIsabella, California[3]
 • average105 cu ft/s (3.0 m3/s)[3]
 • minimum4 cu ft/s (0.11 m3/s)[3]
 • maximum4,100 cu ft/s (120 m3/s)[4]
Basin features
River systemKern River watershed
Tributaries 
 • leftCanebrake Creek
 • rightTrout Creek (Kern River)
DesignatedNovember 24, 1987

The South Fork Kern River is a tributary of the Kern River in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the southernmost rivers on the western slope of the mountains, and drains a high, relatively dry plateau country of 982 square miles (2,540 km2) along the Sierra Crest. The upper South Fork flows through a series of rugged canyons, but it also drains a flat, marshy valley before joining the Kern River at Lake Isabella.

  1. ^ a b "South Fork Kern River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  2. ^ Length derived from river mile markings on USGS topo maps. The uppermost labeled mile is 94, and the river extends about a mile beyond that point to the source meadow.
  3. ^ a b c d "USGS Gage #11190000 on the South Fork Kern River at Isabella (Monthly Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1929–1952. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  4. ^ "USGS Gage #11190000 on the South Fork Kern River at Isabella (Peak Streamflow)". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1929–1952. Retrieved 2010-10-16.