Carrier Canal facts for kids
The Carrier Canal is an important irrigation canal located in Kern County, California. It helps move water from the Kern River to farms and communities. This canal starts in Bakersfield from a shared spot that also sends water to the Kern Island Canal and Eastside Canal.
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What is the Carrier Canal?
The Carrier Canal is like a long, man-made river that carries water. Its main job is to provide water for irrigation, which means watering crops and fields. It runs mostly next to the Kern River for its whole length.
Where Does the Canal Start and End?
The canal gets its water from the Kern River. The main starting point is about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of a place called Gordon's Ferry. It also gets more water from the Kern River near the Golden State Highway (SR 204 freeway) and Coffee Road. The Carrier Canal finishes its journey when its water flows back into the Kern River, close to Enos Lane, west of Bakersfield.
Why Was the Carrier Canal Built?
The Carrier Canal was built because of an important agreement made in 1888. This agreement is known as the Kern River Miller-Haggin Water Agreement. It was created to make sure that a certain amount of water from the Kern River would always flow between two specific points. The canal helps move this water between these two points.
How Does the Water Agreement Work?
The agreement guarantees that a specific amount of water from the Kern River, measured at the "First Point of Measurement" (near Gordon's Ferry), will reach the "Second Point of Measurement" (near Enos Lane). The Carrier Canal plays a key role in making sure this water flow happens.
What Other Canals Connect to It?
The Carrier Canal also helps other canals get water. The Stine Canal and the Buena Vista Canal both branch off from the Carrier Canal. These canals then deliver water to even more customers and farms located south of Bakersfield.
