An irrigation district delivering water to central California farmers and three cities is finding success at eliminating homeless encampments from its ditch banks and canals, but at a cost.
Several years ago, Fresno Irrigation District saw a massive and fast increase of homeless encampments along its ditch banks in the city of Fresno as city and state officials apparently began chasing them out from other locations.
Fresno Irrigation District delivers irrigation water to farms and the cities of Fresno, Clovis, and Kerman. It is one of California’s premier agricultural water districts as good access to surface water, coupled with quality soils, is responsible for much of Fresno County’s $8 billion annual agricultural output.
Urban problem
About eight years ago homeless encampments began to line irrigation canals through the city of Fresno. During drought years when no water flowed down canals in the winter, the homeless began to also take up residence under bridges in those canals. In some cases, they dug holes and otherwise damaged the unlined canals within the city of Fresno. They also left behind trash, human excrement, and drug paraphernalia…