Tehachapi, California 1932

During the first week of October 1932 torrential rains resulted in severe erosion and flash floods in the vicinity of Bakersfield and Tehachapi, California. In 1934 M.W. Talbot photographed this hillside erosion about 4 miles South of Tehachapi on the Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road.

Comparison of 1934 and 2010 photos show that rills and gullies from 1932 are still visible, eroded hills naturally re-vegetated with annual grasses and forbs, sediment filled swales and stream channels are stablized by woody vegetation.

Since 1932 roads have been realigned and most recently wind turbines have been installed.