SAN DIEGO, CA - Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) and San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre (District 1) co-hosted the State of the Tijuana River today at the San Diego Foundation. The Tijuana River sewage crisis is no longer confined to South San Diego. Its environmental, public health, economic, and quality-of-life impacts are felt across the region, demanding a coordinated response from leaders at every level of government, regardless of jurisdiction or political affiliation.
“There is no single angle to the Tijuana River Sewage crisis. It takes multiple projects and multiple agencies communicating and working together, and that is why we gathered today: to identify the next steps each of us can take to move solutions forward,” said Assemblymember Alvarez. “My work in Sacramento has been about getting money out, getting projects expedited, and giving border communities a voice. Mexico is California’s largest trading partner, but we cannot effectively trade while sewage flows”
“The Tijuana River sewage crisis demands a unified regional response and urgent action at every level of government. While South County residents bear the brunt of this disaster, its impacts threaten public health, harm commerce, and pollute our coastline across the entire region. The solution is straightforward: stop pollution at its source by capturing the sewage and cleaning the river before it ever reaches our neighborhoods. Anything less leaves families paying the price for a crisis they did not create," said Supervisor Aguirre. “San Diego County is taking action on everything within our control, but we cannot solve this alone. I’m grateful to Assemblymember David Alvarez for co-hosting this State of the Tijuana River with me, our congressional delegation, and every elected leader who joined us. Now, we must turn our shared commitment into coordinated action and deliver the lasting solutions our residents deserve.”
The roundtable brought together trusted leaders from across San Diego County to assess the crisis, align on ongoing efforts, and advocate for meaningful, lasting solutions. Hosts Assemblymember David Alvarez outlined the state’s response, while Supervisor Aguirre shared an overview of the sewage crisis and the County’s ongoing efforts, followed by expert presentations:
- Dr. Paula Stigler Granados, Associate Professor and Head of the Environmental Health Division at San Diego State University, presented research findings on hydrogen sulfide exposure and public health from the Saturn Boulevard “hotspot.”
- Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, Public Health Officer for the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, shared the County’s public health response, including air monitoring and response efforts.
- Dr. Topher McDougal, Professor at the University of San Diego, presented on the economic toll of the sewage crisis on the San Diego region.
- Riley Nolan, Water Resource Control Engineer with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control board, provided a border water quality update.
The federal government session featured updates from the San Diego congressional delegation: Representatives Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Mike Levin, and Sara Jacobs.
“Our communities deserve clean air, land, and water. Full stop. I’m grateful to see so many local, state, and federal leaders come together at the State of the Tijuana River to demonstrate our shared commitment to combating pollution in the Tijuana River,” said Rep. Vargas. “I’ve been fighting for a state of emergency as well as the federal resources we need to combat this threat to our health and environment, and I’ll continue to do so. We cannot let up.”
“Cross-border sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley has threatened the health and safety of our communities for far too long. Ongoing renegotiations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with Mexico presents a critical opportunity to secure additional funding, strengthen binational commitments, and establish enforceable guardrails and conditions to prevent sewage pollution at its source,” said Rep. Levin. “I’m proud to stand with my San Diego colleagues and local leaders in demanding that the Trump Administration seize this opportunity. Over the past seven years, our San Diego Delegation has worked across party lines and administrations to secure more than $653 million in federal funding to address cross-border sewage pollution, including critical investments through the USMCA in 2019. Much more must be done to build on that progress and deliver the lasting solutions San Diego communities deserve.”
“The Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis has hurt the health and well-being of San Diegans for decades,” said Rep. Jacobs. “It is so important that we come together from all levels of government to prioritize finding solutions for this crisis. Our community has suffered for far too long, and I am glad that we can all work together in pursuit of a healthy, clean, thriving San Diego.”
"It wasn't that long ago that no one was talking about cross-border sewage pollution. This is a national security, public health, and environmental crisis that has plagued our region for too long. But thanks to the advocacy of all the folks who attended today's roundtable, we've secured critical funding and federal attention,” said Rep. Peters. “Now, we must continue working together to reach a final solution. I'm committed to getting that done in partnership with elected and community leaders across the County."
Full list of attendees:
- Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe (County of San Diego)
- Treasurer/Tax Collector Larry Cohen (County of San Diego)
- Councilmember Carolina Chavez (City of Chula Vista)
- Councilmember Michael Inzunza (City of Chula Vista)
- Councilmember Amy Steward (City of Coronado)
- Councilmember Carrie Downey (City of Coronado)
- Councilmember Terry Gaasterland (City of Del Mar)
- Councilmember Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez (City of Imperial Beach)
- Mayor Alysson Snow (City of Lemon Grove)
- Councilmember Jose Rodriguez (City of National City)
- Councilmember Ditas Yamane (City of National City)
- Mayor Todd Gloria (City of San Diego)
- Councilmember Joe LaCava (City of San Diego)
- Councilmember Stephen Whitburn (City of San Diego)
- Councilmember Kent Lee (City of San Diego)
- Assemblymember Darshana Patel (State Assembly)
- CEO Mario Orso (SANDAG)