I would like to point out that the Tejon route passes right through the epicenter of the last great quake (est 8.8) to strike California on the January 15, 1857. Tejon Pass between Wheeler’s Ridge and LeBec is the San Andreas fault. The epicenter of that quake was at a point approximately 9 miles south of Gorman where it intersects with the Garlock fault. Garlock is that giant rip to the west of I-5.

Compounding the problem, the state failed to properly analyze the geology of Piru Canyon where they located Pyramid Lake. They located it right smack in the middle of another fault. It is in grave risk of failure. That impounds 325,000 acre feet of water which could very well go down the Santa Clara River though Piru, Santa Paula and Oxnard to the ocean. Remember the Saint Francis collapsed in March of 1928 with only 36,800 acre feet of water killing 400-450 in the process.

The good news is that these major quakes average 88 years between events. The bad news is the last one was 154 years ago.

Another factor playing in a Tejon decision is elevation. The summit is 4,400 feet above Gorman.