Photos: Staying afloat along the depleted Kern River

Inner-tube riders navigate along rocks popping above the surface of the Kern River. The river made headlines as recently as 2011 for its dangerous water level.

Sammie Adams, left, and Dustin Wagner with Sierra South Paddle Sports wait to load empty kayaks after leading a group along the Kern River.

Jay Brown guides his wife, Gloria, into the Kern River while friend Armida Flores looks on. For decades, the mighty Kern — sometimes called the “Killer Kern” — has attracted adventurous visitors to one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the West.

Cigarettes and beer are all this rafter needs as he tumbles through rapids on the Kern River near Kernville. This year, the river is tamer, and Lake Isabella has dwindled to less than 8% of capacity.

Darron Nilsson walks near the Rio Bravo area of the lower Kern River where boaters enter and exit the waterway. Canceling the rafting season made the most sense for Nilsson’s company, River’s End Rafting & Adventure.

A buoy lies in the drying bed of Lake Isabella, which has dwindled to less than 8% of capacity.

A lone boater speeds along the receding waters of Lake Isabella. The lake is usually packed with boaters, swimmers and fishermen, but drought conditions have evidently scared vacationers away.

Jennifer Campbell and her son, Caleb Garcia, 16 months, soak their feet on the depleted, muddy banks of Lake Isabella.