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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 13 — PARKS, RECREATION AREAS AND PUBLIC PLACES›Chapter 13.48 — BUENA VISTA AQUATIC RECREATION AREA USE REGULATIONS

Kern County Municipal Code Art. I Definitions

Kern County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Kern County

Cite as: Kern County Municipal Code Article I · Text as of 2026-10-04

13.48.010 - Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meaning set forth in this article, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

  1. "Alejandro Canal" means that portion of the Alejandro inlet channel and waters and right-of-way therefor, lying within the boundaries of the recreation area, running southwesterly from its intersection with Union Road to the bridge structure at the conjunction of such channel and Lake "B."

  2. "Aquaplane" means any aqua surfboard, plank pontoon, float, inflatable boat or other similar device or combination thereof used to carry one (1) or more persons on the surface of the water while being towed by a boat. Except as the context may otherwise require, the regulations and prohibitions of this chapter relating to water skis also apply to an aquaplane.

  3. "Authorized officer" means and includes the director and any officer or employee of the county when acting under the authority of the director.

  4. "Board" means the board of supervisors of the county of Kern.

  5. a.

"Boat" means any boat, watercraft, vessel or other floating thing designated, used or capable of being used to carry one (1) or more persons or things on the surface of the water.

b. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "boat" means and includes any rowboat, canoe, sailboat, power boat, barge, launch, ship, yacht, float, pontoon, raft, or watercycle, and any combination of the foregoing.

c. "Boat" shall not be deemed to include a water ski or water skis or an aquaplane, unless the context so requires.

d. "Boat" does not include a seaplane, whether on or off the water.

  1. a.

"Boating" means and includes the act of occupancy, operation or navigation of a boat while afloat on the water.

b. "Boating" does not include occupancy of a boat while it is anchored, moored, tied to a dock or beached.

  1. "Boating area" means all of the waters of Lake "A" and Lake "B," excluding any swimming lagoon.

  2. "Boat, length of" means the length of a boat, in feet and inches, as determined from measuring from end to end over the deck, excluding sheer, or its absolute length, in feet and inches, in its primary direction of travel, whichever is greater.

  3. "Boat, width of" means width of a boat, in feet and inches, as determined from measuring from side to side over the deck, at the widest point, or its absolute width, in feet and inches, measured at its widest point perpendicular to its primary direction of travel, whichever is greater.

  4. "County" means the county of Kern.

  5. "Director" means the director of the parks and recreation department of the county of Kern.

  6. "Harbors and Navigation Code" means the Harbors and Navigation Code, as in effect at the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter derives, and as the same may from time to time be amended or reenacted.

  7. a.

"Inflatable boat" means a boat the buoyancy of which is dependent, in whole or in part, on one (1) or more compartments which are inflated with air or other gas.

b. "Inflatable boat" does not mean a boat with rigid air compartments, containing air at a pressure approximately the same as the atmosphere.

  1. "Kern River inflow channel" means the boundaries of the recreation area.

  2. "Lake A" means that lake or reservoir within the recreation area, lying westerly of the Kern River inflow channel, exclusive of any swimming lagoon, and commonly known as Lake Evans.

  3. "Lake B" means that lake or reservoir within the recreation area, lying easterly of the Kern River inflow channel, exclusive of any swimming lagoon, and commonly known as Lake Webb.

  4. "Model boat" means a boat not designed, used or capable of being used to carry a person, and which is remotely controlled by radio equipment.

  5. "Motorboat" means a power boat.

  6. "Motor power" means and includes a motor or engine, including but not confined to an internal combustion engine, steam engine or electric power.

  7. "Park" means the recreation area.

  8. "Person" means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation or company.

  9. a.

"Power boat" means a boat which is equipped for propulsion by motor power.

b. The term "power boat" also means and includes any boat equipped with a detachable motor.

c. The term "power boat" also means and includes any inflatable boat equipped as a power boat, temporarily or permanently, in which case it shall be subject to the orders, regulations and prohibitions applicable to power boats, in addition to those applicable to inflatable boats.

d. The term "power boat" also means and includes watercycle.

e. The term "power boat" also means and includes any sailboat which is equipped as a power boat and while it is operated under power or is ready for immediate operation under power.

f. The term "power boat" shall not include a model boat.

  1. "Recreation area" means the Buena Vista aquatic recreation area. and includes all of the lands and waters lying within the boundaries of those portions of Sections 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23 and 24, Township 31 South, Range 25 East, MDB&M, in the county of Kern, state of California, as shown in Record of Survey Map filed January 25, 1972, in Book 10, Pages 126, 127 and 128 of Record of Surveys in the office of the Kern County recorder.

  2. a.

"Ski" means a water ski or water skis.

b. "Ski" also means the act of waterskiing or riding aquaplane.

  1. "Ski beach" or "skiing beach" means and includes a special use area along the shores of a boating area, which has been approved by this chapter or by a regulation or order adopted pursuant hereto, for purposes of taking off from the shore or landing thereon by persons riding water skis or aquaplanes.

  2. "Skier" or "waterskier" means any person who is using or riding on a water ski or skis or an aquaplane.

  3. "Skier, fallen" or "skier, downed" means and includes a person who has been riding or attempting to ride water skis or an aquaplane, and who has fallen in the water, such as after a spill, loss of speed or loss of tow rope, or who has failed to begin riding on the surface.

  4. "Swimming lagoon" means any lagoon or water area set aside for swimming purposes, adjacent to Lake "A" or Lake "B," separated therefrom by a beach or embankment.

  5. "Watercycle" means and refers to any self-propelled water vehicle, designed to be ridden upon and not in, which is driven by a waterjet or impeller, and steered by the force of a directional water jet or by a ski or skis. A watercycle is a type of boat.

  6. a.

"Water ski" means a device used singly or in pairs to carry a person on the surface of the water, while being towed by a boat, and which keeps such person above the surface of the water by rapidity of movement. "Water ski" shall also include water skis.

b. No provision of this chapter authorizing use of water skis shall be deemed to authorize use of water skis in conjunction with any kite, wings or airfoil.

(Ord. G-6248 § 2, 1995; prior code §§ 5391.2—5391.2.30, 5392.2)

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