SAN DIEGO – California, federal and international representatives gathered near the border on Dec. 18, 2024 to celebrate a state-funded pilot project to intercept tires, washing machines and other debris that flow from Mexico into the Tijuana River, clogging the channel and contributing to chronic water quality problems.
The State Water Resources Control Board financed the $4.7 million project, which features floating trash booms made partially from recycled material. The project is overseen by the nonprofit Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC).
The pilot, which will run for the next two consecutive storm seasons, began with the deployment of the plastic-and-steel encased booms on Nov. 14. Today’s ribbon-cutting event initiates the next phase: the capture and removal of obje