About Antelope Run

Antelope Run is a natural seasonal stream, the source of which is the Antelope Dam primary spillway or reservoir. The stream winds for a two-mile stretch along residential. commercial and light industrial parcels and crosses three streets. The problem is that Antelope Run suffers from severe erosion and has a high potential for floods. Depth of the streambed fluctuates between 5 and 18 feet. the average slope is 3% and some of the angles the stream takes are far too sharp.

The slopes lack vegetation and the stream bed has become an ad-hoc dumping ground where the types of debns found vary from shopping carts to abandoned pick-up trucks. Compounding the problem, the Tehachapi area is experiencing rapid growth and, historically, private developers have been virtually unchecked as they build here. The result has been increased and rapid soil erosion, sedimentation of stream channels and paving. In addition, the three street crossings have become inadequate to handle peak flows. During a 1% flood event (100-year flood) it has been calculated that Antelope Run would flow in excess of 3,000 cubic feet per second.

Presently, if this were to occur Route 202 would be washed out, as would Cherry Lane, a county road that crosses the run. Homes and businesses would be destroyed and lives would be in danger. The Tucker Road commercial corridor would be severely crippled. costing the area millions of dollars in damages. In addition, half of the region would be cut-off from emergency services due to the location of the Sheriffs office, Kern County Fire Department and Tehachapi Hospital.