The canal “prism” refers to the cross-section of the canal embankments and the canal bed and is typically trapezoidal in shape (wider at the water surface and narrower at the canal bed). The canal prism can be lined with concrete or earth.

Nearly 127 miles of the Friant-Kern Canal are lined with concrete. Concrete lined canals improve water conveyance efficiency over earthen-lined canals by limiting seepage and lowering channel roughness.

The Friant-Kern Canal features three earthen-lined segments at mileposts 34.93, 57.14 and 119.5. The 25 miles of earthen segments are comprised of high plastic clays, silt, silty sand and/or sandy clay.

Check structures are used to raise the water level within a section of a canal to control the flow and distribution of water at turnouts or wasteways. Constructed of steel and concrete, the Friant-Kern Canal includes 14 of these structures.

Eight wasteways have been constructed into the canal embankment and are used to, among other things, divert surplus flows from the main canal into a natural or constructed channel to protect the canal system and support periodic maintenance.

Turnouts are concrete inlets set into the slope of the canal embankment and allow for the diversion of water for beneficial use. Metal screens cover most turnouts to limit intrusion of debris.

Typically constructed of concrete or metal, monitoring structures are used to measure water level height and flow volume. They are positioned upstream and downstream of check structures.

Siphons are underground concrete channels that transport water under existing structures or natural waterways. Siphons have a canal inlet and outlet and operate by gravity.

Overchutes are concrete flumes or steel pipes that pass over the top of the Friant-Kern Canal. These features usually convey drainage or stormwater runoff not suited by a siphon undercrossing.

Similar in function and construction, siphon undercrossings and culverts are concrete boxes that travel underneath the width of the Friant-Kern Canal to transport drainage and stormwater runoff.

Over 200 bridges carry vehicle and pedestrian traffic across the canal. County highway bridges and farm bridges are most common and are constructed with timber and/or concrete.

Twenty-three operating bridges are used for accessing important maintenance facilities and structures along the canal embankments. Most operating bridges were repurposed from former highway and farm bridges.

Central Valley Project signs are positioned at various points along the canal to mark location. They list the Bureau of Reclamation and Friant-Water Authority as respective owner and operator of the canal.