Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area is not only a boaters paradise, it is also one of the premier birding locations of the south central valley. In 1973, this artificial lake and park was created to satisfy the recreation needs of residents of the Westside of Kern County. At 350' in elevation, BVARA is situated about 20' above the original Buena Vista Lakebed and is maintained by pumped groundwater. Kern County Parks and Recreation have helped to restore much needed habitat to the southern valley through the creation of many parks. This has facilitated the return of many species native to the area.

The 185 bird species listed have been observed within the Buena Vista lake region, including land adjacent to the recreation area. This checklist is a preliminary effort, no doubt destined to grow as more people discover this oasis and report their findings. BVARA has many kinds of habitats. Lake Webb has several small islands that are home to hundreds of Black-crowned Night Herons. Make sure you bring a scope as this lake is 748 acres of birding heaven. During winter the 86 acre Lake Evans at the west end of the park - can be the best place in the county to have close encounters with American White Pelicans. Look for shorebirds and pipits in the mud puddles beside the road and along the shore near the swimming lagoons. The mild climate leads to some interesting behavior as Western and Clark's Grebes have been seen with nestlings in late December. Wintering species of note: on Lake Webb - Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Bonaparte's Gull. In the swimming lagoons - Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup. At the east entrance look for hummingbirds and Great Horned Owl in the Eucalyptus trees. At the west entrance, dense vegetation in the canals hides numerous herons and egrets. The grassland just north of the park is home to many Burrowing Owls and Ring-necked Pheasants.

Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area is found just south of State Route 119, commonly known as Taft Highway. It is approximately 23 miles southwest of Bakersfield and 12 miles northeast of Taft. At Interstate 5, take the Taft / Hwy 119 exit - travel west towards Taft - at the crossroad of Highway 43 / Enos Lane - turn left (south). The entrance is about 2 miles south of the intersection. The entrance fee - 1-10 people in a vehicle is $6.00. Picnic tables are found throughout the park.

The Kern River Parkway Bike Path is extends from Buena Vista Lake to the mouth of the Kern River canyon, a distance of over 35 miles. Public support is needed to complete and maintain the area for recreation and wildlife habitat.

Natural history of Buena Vista Lake

When California was admitted to the Union in 1850, the southern San Joaquin Valley had the largest freshwater marsh and lake system west of the Mississippi River. Geologically known as the Tulare Lake basin, the area originally consisted of an extensive slough system and three large lakes: Tulare, Kern, and Buena Vista, which encompassed over 1/2 million acres. The broad delta of the Kern River is known as Cole's Levee and the Kern emptied into Buena Vista and Kern lakes. This region was discovered by Europeans during Pedro Fages expedition in 1772. Yokut Indian villages: Tulamniu, Chuxoxi and Hometwoli ringed the shores of Buena Vista lake until the mid 1800's. In 1863, Colonel Thomas Baker began the task of reclaiming swamp land that the government had deemed to be of no value. Though the task was difficult the entire 34,000 acre Buena Vista lakebed is now cultivated farmland. The area flooded almost every year except during droughts, before Lake Isabella Dam was completed in 1953. Until a few years ago, years of above normal rainfall, floods refilled part of the original basin. The Kern Water Bank a recharge project the the California Dept. of Water Resources gave to Kern County Water Interests, now takes all of the excess floodwater. Prior to the draining of the lakes and marshes, waterfowl, elk, antelope, grizzly bear, and hundreds of other species of animals inhabited the southern San Joaquin Valley numbering in the millions. Channelization of the Kern River eliminated the natural lakes and marshes. Human encroachment into this unique ecosystem led to the extirpation of many once common species. The original Buena Vista Lake was one of the most productive nesting areas for many kinds of waterfowl and shorebirds. With the resurrection of a small but permanent water source, this region is seeing the return of species thought lost forever.

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