Long Term

The Antelope Run Restoration Program is the next phase of the Tehachapi Watershed Project which represents nearly twenty ears of flood control efforts in the Tehachapi valley. The Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District (TCCWD). The Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Tehachapi Resource Conservation District and the City of Tehachapi joined together and garnered federal funds just under twenty years ago to build a dam in Antelope Canyon . The dam was built to capture storm water.

It has proven abundantly successful. Over the years a Reservoir was built down the canyon from the dam and an enjoining channel was constructed to further aid in the collection of storm water. This project reiterates the common desire of local agencies and organizations to secure a future safe from floods. In 1990 an initial study was administered to explore solutions to flood control and erosion problems on Antelope Run. Solutions were documented. but due to budgetary restraints the City of Tehachapi was forced to seek resources externally and could not secure funding. Over the last several ears the problem has worsened with additional erosion creating steeper slopes especially around the existing, insufficient culverts. Thus, the TCCWD has been forced to resort to reactionary, piece meal solutions. This involved one very successful project where the Las Colinas development was secured from mudslide and flood threats. The TCCWD joined forces with the NRCS to import fill and line the stream with nprap. The slopes have remained stable and what was once a severe threat has been mitigated. On the other end of the spectrum is a failed effort to prevent erosion and manage flooding upstream. near the reservoir. Here nprap was brought in. but it was grouted with concrete. Funds were limited and engineers were not consulted. The system failed and erosion has continued. That is why the partnership of the DWR is so critical. With additional resources we can bring in experts, develop and implement a plan that will successfully manage floods and control erosion throughout Antelope Run. Flood management will never be successful on Antelope Run unless resources are made available to approach this dynamic stream system in a comprehensive manner.