The plan, according to agency documents, was to use the wells to pump groundwater into the river bed in dry years, defined as when Kern River runoff is at 50 percent of normal or below.

Source: https://www.bakersfield.com/columnists/lois-henry/lois-henry-kern-river-restoration-wells-pumping-but-not-to-restore-the-river/article_9a7a9612-87fd-11ed-aac2-5773b8de9636.html