‘It looks like a jungle’ Homeowners fed up with overgrown drainage channel

Whether you live in a home or an apartment, chances are a drainage channel is nearby.

They play an important role in protecting our homes by managing rainfall and runoff.

but when they’re not maintained, they can easily become a neighborhood eyesore.

Fox SA’s Investigative Problem Solver Darian Trotter looked into their concerns. solver report.

“I just feel like it’s a shame that we have to put up with this,” said Diana Lujan.

John and Diana Lujan like relaxing in their backyard.

They’ve replaced their cedar privacy fence with a more open metal one in order to enjoy the view.

But lately they say they’ve not been able to.

“It looks like a jungle, wild, it is awful,” said Lujan. “Trees from our neighbors in the back are practically on the ground and the city doesn’t care.”

They say heavy rain has made it a bit more challenging for the city to keep the drainage channel from becoming overgrown.

Then there’s this a hole that’s grown larger and is now full of water. Which creates a breeding ground for mosquitos.

It’s why Diana sprays plenty of insect repellant before going out back.

“The mosquitoes are bad and that hole looks terrible,” said Lujan.

The Lujan’s believe heavy equipment used to mow the channel, comes in at a angle and has slowly created a hole.

However it happened, they don’t like it and have repeatedly called the city do something about it.

“I’ve been calling and complaining, and they just say somebody will get back with you and nothing,” said Lujan. “Somebody will get back with you and nothing. They even said they’re going to give me a case number and, and nothing.”

The Lujan’s maintain their trees, but it appears some of their neighbors don’t.

Maybe they’re unaware that their tree branches are hanging over their privacy fences and into the channel. Maybe they can’t see them. The Lujan’s say crews with public works sure can. But they still have not been pruned.

“I guess they just don’t care,” said Lujan. “I mean that’s the feeling I get like because if they cared I think they would take a little bit more interest in me calling.”

When we took their concerns to the city, we learned the public works department mows the channel four times a year.

As for the hole, a spokesman for the City of San Antonio says, “It was caused by natural stormwater erosion and became worse because of a leak in the irrigation system of a nearby property.”

Lujan said, “If they can come and fix it for me, and just do something where it won’t be that hole, you know. That’s so I can enjoy my backyard because I cannot sit back there and enjoy it, looking at that awful hole and then all the mosquitoes.”

Again, this is what it looked like before we got involved.

Since then, the city has made immediate plans to regrade the affected portion of the drainage channel and fill in the low-lying areas.

plans also call for removing silt buildup and overgrown vegetation to ensure proper water flow and trimming a few overgrown trees to provide proper access for city vehicles.

This is what the channel looks like now.

City staffers notified the property owner about repairing the irrigation leak.

Property owners are encouraged to contact 311 about any drainage concerns.

The city says the final resolution and may take up to 90-days, depending on the complexity of the drainage concern.