BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — There’s been a welcome turn of events for Bring Back the Kern, the group that’s been trying to compel the city of Bakersfield to halt its ongoing, wholesale diversion of water from the Kern River.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, has filed an amicus brief with an appeals court in support of the pro-flow plaintiffs.

Last year, a coalition of environmental groups, led by Bring Back the Kern and Water Audit California, were granted their motion for a preliminary injunction requiring the city of Bakersfield to cease its practice of completely drying up the Kern River — in violation, they say, of the California Fish and Game code.

But a handful of agricultural water districts, served by the city’s diversions of water, appealed the trial court’s decision requiring that some water be left in the river. Bakersfield saw the result on Labor Day weekend, when the water diversion left thousands of fish to die on the dry riverbed.

Bonta’s friend of the court filing puts the state squarely behind the lawsuit against the city and its co-defendants, the Kern Delta Water Storage District, North Kern Water Storage District and Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District.

Kelly Damian, with Bring Back the Kern, said the amicus gives let-it-flow advocates some momentum.

“The attorney general is saying that while the case is being decided,” she said, “the water should be allowed to run down the river. And he has really implied that he agrees with many parts of our argument. So it’s a great win for the river and it’s a great win for the city, truly.”

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Some of the Bakersfield residents KGET talked to on Tuesday said a flowing river makes a huge difference in their appreciation for this city.

“I would love to see the water in the river,” said Serene Storslett, a Bakersfield CPA. “Ever since we moved here to Bakersfield in 1985, it’s always been like this dry river. And then you see this sign, ‘Do not jump over the bridge.’”

Chris Barnett said water would make a huge difference for him as a Kern River Parkway regular.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden down this path when it’s green, (but) it’s absolutely gorgeous. We have one of the most gorgeous places in the whole state right here, if we would only let water through.”

Bakersfield City Attorney Ginny Gennaro said the city is preparing to file a response to Bonta’s amicus brief.

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