Environmental groups clashed Thursday with California water districts before a state appeals court over water flows in the Kern River in central California, buoying their arguments on seemingly conflicting laws and supposed failures of the trial court. Groups like the North Kern Water Storage District last year appealed a preliminary injunction requiring enough flows to keep fish in good condition. They argued that it’s improper to interpret state fish and game code as favoring fish over all other needs, adding that a balancing test must occur. They want the injunction and related implementation order shelved, with instructions relayed to the lower court from the Fifth District Court of Appeal on next steps. No ruling occurred Thursday but the three-judge panel took the matter under submission.