Cummings Valley

Cummings Valley is in California's Tehachapi Mountains.

Cummings Valley was settled by the Kawaiisu people before the arrival of white Americans, largely of Irish origin[1][note 1], in the 1850s.[2] The region's agriculture began with livestock and dry farming as water was not imported until 1973.[2] This water consists of 20,000 acre-feet of water annually from the State Water Project pumped 3,425 vertical feet from the Grapevine area.[3] These imports, including their use to recharge the natural water basin have been impacted by the ongoing climate-change-caused megadrought.[4]

Agriculture remains a large part of the Cummings Valley economy, including greenhouses and vineyards.[5]

Stallion Springs and the California Correctional Institution are both located in Cummings Valley.

The dominant geographical feature in Cummings Valley is Cummings Mountain to the southeast.[6] Many portions of the valley retain their valley oak-dominated, natural savannah state.[7] Other oaks in Cummings Valley include black oaks.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ Among these Irish immigrants was John Hickey who was Cummings Valley's first school teacher and would later become Tehachapi's second mayor.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Pen In Hand: Ireland in Tehachapi — a touch of Erin" by John Hammond. Tehachapi News. September 1, 2016. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "TCCWD History," Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "Facts about the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District." Tehachapi News. September 1, 2016. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Cummings Basin enters 2022 with new water rules" by Claudia Elliot. Tehachapi News. January 1, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Chuck McCollough: 93 years for this champion of the Tehachapi lifestyle" by John Hammond. Tehachapi News. October 27, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "Visitor Guide: Elevation of Mountain Peaks" by John Hammond. Tehachapi News. May 18, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Valley Oak Savanna: you don't have to go to Africa to see savanna habitat" by John Hammond. Tehachapi News. February 12, 2018. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Black Oaks: a higher elevation Tehachapi oak that gets all dressed up for autumn" by John Hammond. Tehachapi News. October 14, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2022.

35°07′N 118°36′W / 35.11°N 118.60°W / 35.11; -118.60


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