Beardsley Canal facts for kids
The Beardsley Canal is an important canal in Kern County, California. It's an irrigation canal, which means it carries water to help farms grow crops. This canal starts at the Kern River and ends at some water storage areas called reservoirs near Famoso.
Beardsley Canal: A Waterway for Farms
The Beardsley Canal plays a big role in getting water to farms in Kern County. It's one of many canals that help turn dry land into productive farmland.
Where Does the Water Go?
The Beardsley Canal starts by taking water from the Kern River. This is called a "diversion." It's the very first place water is taken from the Kern River in the San Joaquin Valley to help farms. (There are other canals near Hart Park, but they are just for looks and flow back into the river.)
The canal follows the Kern River for a bit. Then, it reaches a spot where other canals also take water. These include the Carrier, Kern Island, and Eastside Canals.
The Canal's Journey
From that common spot, the Beardsley Canal travels west. It goes through the area known as Oildale. After crossing Roberts Lane, the canal turns towards the northwest.
It then crosses SR 99, which is a major highway. The canal continues its journey northwest, moving away from busy city areas. It crosses SR 99 again, this time running alongside the east side of the highway.
At this point, it runs somewhat parallel to other large canals. These include the Friant-Kern Canal and the Calloway Canal, which are located farther west. The Beardsley Canal keeps going northwest until it reaches its end. It finishes its journey at reservoirs in Famoso, where the water is stored for later use.
