Drought-squeezed Kings River will rise for a while

A drought-shortened water delivery season is scheduled to begin Friday along the lower Kings River near Reedley, Kingsburg, Laton, Lemoore and Riverdale.

The Kings River Water Association said the run will last through at least the middle of August, extending at times as far downstream as Crescent Weir, south of Riverdale. Several irrigation districs and canal companies take river allotments.

Steve Haugen, Kings River watermaster and manager of the association, said people who enjoy recreation along the Kings need to be aware of the release and water safety issues. He warned that dirt and debris are likely to be carried by the advancing water in the first few days.

“For the past several months, flows in the river between Pine Flat Dam and Reedley have been very low, but that is going to change rapidly,” he said.

The river has been left with little water this year because of the extreme drought. By the end of the water year on Sept. 30, the river flow is expected to total only 19% of its annual average, which would break the previous low record of 23% in 1924.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Drought-squeezed Kings River will rise for a while."