Kern River

Isabella Dam’s Repair Gets OK

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is finally ready to move ahead with detailed engineering design of a large safety modification program at Isabella Dam northeast of Bakersfield.
A record of decision and dam safety modification report were approved by Corps management. They will ultimately permit the agency to award construction contracts.
The work is to resolve a potential dam overtopping problem by raising crests of the main and auxiliary dams 16 feet, improving an existing spillway, and building a new 900-foot spillway along with a new upstream berm and foundation treatments.
Seismic issues are also to be addressed. Costs could range up to $600 million.