FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A vast network of dams and canals run by the state and federal governments carries water to farmers and cities across California.
In Fresno County, the zigzagging Friant-Kern Canal, diverting water from Millerton Lake, snakes past small villages as it carries vital supplies to farms and communities. Along the way, farmers have erected signs along their fields, demanding more water and condemning Gov. Gavin Newsom for his water management policies.
The Friant-Kern Canal carries water diverted from Millerton Lake at Friant Dam in Friant, Calif., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Friant-Kern Canal carries water diverted from Millerton Lake at Friant Dam in Friant, Calif., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The state’s demand for water and how to share it remains the subject of fierce political debate, with President Donald Trump pledging to send more to farmers.
Herndon Canal runs through farmland in Fresno, Calif., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Herndon Canal runs through farmland in Fresno, Calif., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Farther south, the San Luis Canal stretches alongside the vast farmland and disappears into the horizon toward Los Angeles as it merges with the California Aqueduct.
The San Luis Canal flows alongside farmland in Huron, Calif., Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Luis Canal flows alongside farmland in Huron, Calif., Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
