Due to rapid snow melt after hot temperatures, the Kern River is on the rise. Three people died in the river over Memorial Day weekend, but it's not just swimmers being affected by the levels. Properties along the river are in danger of flooding.
JEH Ranch is across from Hart Park. The property is used as a wedding venue. The space typically used for the reception and ceremony is now flooded. Workers have stacked more than 500 sand bags, but the water continues to flood in. Ron Clifton, one of those employees, says it's an endless cycle.
"We have to pump the water out and as often as we pump it out it just gets right back in," Clifton says.
Kern County Rangers say the lower river, where JEH Ranch is located, will probably not rise much more. The upper river will be the area that fluctuates the most. It's currently at 7500 CFS but could rise up to 12,000 CFS.
