January 19, 2011

Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team

The Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team is a collaboration of more than 30 federal, state, and local agencies organized to implement recovery of the Tijuana River Valley in partnership with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and OpenOceans Global. 

Thank You!

This Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team Update is made possible by OpenOceans Global thanks to a grant from the Sempra Energy Foundation.

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board will host a public workshop and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Scoping Meeting about the Tijuana River Valley Sedimentation and Trash TMDL project on January 20, 2011, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 p.m. at the board's offices, 9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA. 92123-4340. The purpose of the workshop is to provide information, answer questions, and receive early public input on the TMDL project.  The meeting notice and project technical report are available on the Water Board's webpage.

A TMDL (total mass daily load) is a regulatory process that results in a limit to the amount of a contaminant that is allowed in a body of water. 

Future updates and notices about the Tijuana River Valley Sedimentation and Trash TMDL project will be sent to those who subscribe to the "Tijuana River Valley TMDLs" electronic mailing list.

IBWC Citizens Forum Scheduled for January 20 at the Estuary Visitor Center

The U.S. Section of the IBWC has scheduled a Citizens Forum on Thursday, January 20, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Tijuana Estuary Meeting Room, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, CA 91932.  The meeting will focus on water quality issues and regional history affecting the Tijuana River Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.   Agenda items include recent flood conditions in the Tijuana River Basin, an update on construction of the secondary upgrade of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, a presentation about microbial source tracking in the Tijuana River Estuary, an overview of military history in the Tijuana River Valley, and a discussion of how the southern boundary of California was established.  For more information, call 619-662-7600 or email sally.spener@ibwc.gov.

BECC-NADB to Host Public Meeting in Tijuana

On February 8, 2011, the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission and the North Amercian Development Bank will host a public meeting in Tijuana.  The purpose of the meeting is to provide a direct exchange with the BECC-NADB board of directors about the work of the two organizations. Border residents, project sponsors, and local state and federal leaders are invited to share their views on border environmental projects and issues.

Mexican Mayors Invited to Joint TRNERR and Border 2012 Meeting

The new mayors of Tijuana and Tecate will be invited to a joint meeting of the TRNERR Advisory Committee and Border 2012.  The meeting will allow all levels of Mexican government to hear themes and to highlight the good efforts being done on both sides of the border.

Maria Elena Giner Named BECC General Manager

The Board of Directors of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American Development Bank (NADB) have appointed Maria Elena Giner as General Manager of the BECC for a five-year term.  

Public Park Made from Reclaimed Materials Opens in Colonia San Bernardo

In early October, Tijuana municipal utilities, area non-profits, and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined to unveil “Parque Frontera 2012,” a public park constructed out of reclaimed materials, in an underserved area in Tijuana, Colonia San Bernardo in Los Laureles Canyon.  The event highlights the many bi-national efforts that are efficiently mitigating the ecological and public health challenges posed by a fast-growing population, border economy and dearth of environmental policy in Mexico.  Recovery Team members Oscar Romo and Doug Liden were active in making the project possible via USEPA's Border 2012 initiative.

Grants Section of Web Site Has Been Updated

The grants section of the TJ River Team web site has been updated and continues to be a resource of current and ongoing grant availability.  Please check it regularly.

Visioning Process Results in Agreement to Develop a Framework Plan for the Valley

After two visioning sessions (April and September) and nearly a year of deliberation, the Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team has a template for an Integrated Framework Strategy designed to guide the team though the development of the projects and actions that will result in the ultimate restoration and maintenance of the valley consistent with the plans developed by the member agencies of the Recovery Team.  A third Visioning Workshop is tentatively scheduled for April 2011 and will focus on a discussion of the Integrated Framework Strategy. For additional information, please contact Dave Gibson, Regional Water Quality Control Board at (858) 467-4387 or dgibson@waterboards.ca.gov or Kristen Goodrich, Tijuana River National Estuary Research Reserve at (619) 575-3613 x 315 or kgoodrich@parks.ca.gov.  Followup workshops to develop the road map for the Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team will be scheduled in coming weeks.

OpenOceans Global to Create Composite GIS Maps and Conduct Video Stakeholder Interviews

Funded by an Environmental Champions grant from the Sempra Energy Foundation, OpenOceans Global will step up its work in assisting the Recovery Team in achieving its mission and vision.  Elements of the grant include upgrading this newsletter and the web site while expanding the list of those informed about the Recovery Team's work, including approporiate media.  Two larger efforts are the development of an integrated cross organization, bi-national GIS map and a project to interview key stakeholders on video.  The maps will help the Recovery Team determine where there are opportunities for project collaboration and cooperation and where issues need to be addressed.  The GIS work will include conferring with Mexican agencies to map their projects that relate to the Tijuana River Valley's recovery.   The interviews of valley stakeholders will be provide a unique opportunity to understand their perceptions and dreams for the valley.  The interviews will be available online via the TJ River Team web site.

Tijuana River Valley Avoids Major Flooding from Early Season Storms

Days of rain that soaked the soil followed by a multi-hour downpour the night of December 21 brought floodwaters to the Tijuana River Valley once again.  The water left trash and sediment in its wake, but overall the valley fared well.

• Monument Road became flooded at the Smugglers Gulch culvert due to a clogged culvert.

• Hollister had water running on it but was passable.

• The south berm by the Hollister Bridge was breached and several ranches had some flooding.

• Some horses were moved to higher ground.

Additional storms at the end of the year and in the first week of January also resulted in only minimal flooding.

Real-Time River Flows from the IBWC

The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) maintains a real-time Tijuana River gauge at the International Border,  The data can be viewed at the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing Center (SCCOOS) web site. 

See the River Plume Move Up the Coast

The folks at SCCOOS also have developed an animation to track the plume from the Tijuana River as it flows along the coast.  This storm has pushed the plume directly up the coast to Coronado.

Alamar River Channelization Work Nears Completion as Year Ends

Work was expected to be completed by the end of the year on the channelization of the Alamar River east of Tijuana.  Impacts to the Tijuanar River Valley south of the border are uncertain.  The following photo was taken in late summer.

Secondary Plant Testing Underway, CILA Agrees to Remove Silt

The IBWC  has been testing the Secondary Treatment Plant and the facility will officially go online shortly.  The Mexican section of the IBWC (CILA Comision Internacional de Limites y Aguas) hsa agreed to remove silt upstream from the U.S./Mexico border. 

CEQA Process Underway to Develop Statewide Trash Policy

State Water Resources Control Board staff is proposing a Trash Policy, which would identify trash as a separate pollutant and establish methods to control trash pollution in waters of the state.  A California Environmental Quality Act scoping session was held in the fall.  The three elements subject to scoping consideration are: (1) Water Quality Policy, (2) Water Quality Objectives, and (3) Implementation.  For more information go to the State Water Board website.

Border Patrol Projects to Improve Fence Area, Outreach Meetings Part of the Process

The Border Patrol continues work on improvements in the area of the Border fence.  Three projects underway include realignment of the Bunker Hill access road on the west side of the hill and a new road on the east side.  Work will also be done to replace the fence at Friendship Circle and to create a canopy structure.  The additional project replaces the existing surf fence where it extends into the ocean.  A government agency outreach meeting was held for all three projects and a public outreach meeting is scheduled for February 9.

USEPA Awards WildCoast $50,000 Grant to Coordinate Mexico Trash Management Project

The U.S. EPA has provided WildCoast with $50,000 to coordinate the Cañon Limpio project, in partnership with Tijuana nonprofits Tijuana Calidad de Vida and Alter Terra.  The objective of the project is to increase community capacity in Los Laureles Canyon for improved solid waste management.

Hydrology Presentation Now Online

A presentation about the hydrology and the sedimentation of the Tijuana River watershed is now online at the TJ River Team web site.  URS Corporation conducted the study for the City of San Diego as part of a State Water Resources Control Board grant.

State Wetlands Report Available Online

The State of the State’s Wetlands report was also released in October 2010.  Funded under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the report can be downloaded from the Natural Resources Agency’s Web site.

Contact Information: allofus@tjriverteam.org