Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Water, Red Tape Bogs Down Neighborhood : Four Oaks: Residents say nothing has been done about flooding. But after hiring geology consultant, city says it must determine cost of possible solutions.

Canyon Country residents, ankle-deep in water for the last two months, say they’re mired in city complacency as well.

Ground water levels rose in Santa Clarita’s Four Oaks community in mid-April, causing so much water to pour across yards, down driveways and into basements that many thought a water main had burst. Santa Clarita sent in street sweepers to keep the area free of algae and posted signs prohibiting heavy trucks traffic to protect weakened streets, but residents say nothing has been done to address the overall drainage problem.

“We’d like some input on what they’re going to do rather than sit on their hands, which it looks like they are doing,” said Karen McMains a Four Oaks Avenue resident. “They won’t talk to us. We’ve asked them at least six times to have a meeting.”

McMains said residents want to meet with someone from Santa Clarita who can authorize repairs for the area.

Flooding has receded somewhat in the neighborhood that is bordered by Camp Plenty Road, Langside Avenue, Delight Street and Glasser Avenue, but property owners fear the recurring problem makes it impossible to sell their homes.

Los Angeles County Flood Control and California Department of Water Resources records indicate flooding occurred during 1973 and 1983 after strong storms, then disappeared a few months later. Residents don’t want the city to simply wait for the water to evaporate in upcoming months.

“This is a critical, long-term problem. It isn’t to them because they don’t live here,” McMains said.

The city hired BCI Geonetics Inc., a geology consultant, to determine what is creating the flooding problem and how to remedy it. In BCI’s preliminary report to the city, it was suggested that to carry water away either pumping wells or underground drainage pipes be installed. City engineer Tony Nisich said Santa Clarita must determine the cost of the two options and how the city can fund the work before it can provide residents with the answers they seek.

“It doesn’t do us any good to come up with a technical solution that we can’t pay for,” Nisich said.

Nisich said Santa Clarita will pay BCI Geonetics $50,000 for its consulting work and pumping wells estimated at $50,000 to $100,000 each. Specific costs are unavailable until the number and depth of wells are determined.

Santa Clarita hopes to receive federal reimbursement by demonstrating the flooding is the result of the heavy rains that preceded it.