What We Do

We work collaboratively

to build community, share information, advocate for solutions, and elevate community voices in our effort to address the ongoing public health crisis in the Tijuana River Watershed.

To do this, we work in five key areas of focus. 

Public Health

Untreated sewage and industrial waste polluting the water and air in the San Diego - Tijuana region are leading to immediate and long-term illnesses, including impacts to mental health.  Those especially vulnerable include children, older adults, and immunocompromised community members.  Working-class, border-area communities that predominantly identify as Latino/x disproportionately bear the brunt of negative health impacts and tend to have less access to public health resources and decision-making processes. 

Ecological Impacts

The Tijuana Estuary - the largest coastal wetland in Southern California, one of the few remaining salt marshes, and home to over 370 bird species - is one of the many unique and threatened ecosystems located in the Tijuana River Watershed.  Habitat destruction and loss of species diversity from transboundary pollution are having devastating consequences for local and migrating wildlife populations and ecosystem health overall.  

Coastal Access

Transformational experiences in the outdoors support the wellbeing of children, youth, and individuals and build community.  With toxic conditions in the Tijuana River Valley and beyond, generations of children are now losing the opportunity to safely engage with nature and develop the connections that drive environmentally protective decisions and behaviors.  Those with cultural and spiritual connections to the land and water are being cut off from areas of significance and practice.  

Economic Impacts

Communities on both sides of the border support strong local, regional, and national economies.  Beach closures and health impacts have put multi-sector businesses at great risk, especially in the tourism industry.  When children and adults get sick, they miss school and work.  Some businesses have been forced to lay off staff and close their doors, while many residents have lost their livelihoods, and with it, their access to healthcare.  

National Security

For generations service members and first responders have trained, worked, and performed life-saving rescues in the Tijuana River Valley and Southern California coastlines.  U.S. Navy SEALS, Coastguard, Border Patrol Agents, Lifeguards and more now risk significant illness by performing their job duties, threatening important operations, public safety, and national security. 

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Artist Credit: Josué Baltézar (he/him) is an artist and designer who believes art should be accessible to everyone. He understands the crucial role that art and design play in advocating for environmental and social justice. This design for the Tijuana River Coalition brings together various elements to symbolize the dedication to advocacy for and protection of the Tijuana River region, which includes both sides of the US/MX border. A mountain sits prominently in the center, with two houses at its base, representing our communities on both sides of the border. The Tijuana River flows through the mountains and down into the foreground, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. On the left and right of the mountains are native plants, including giant kelp on the left and prickly pear cactus on the right. Above the mountains, a brown pelican and a monarch butterfly fly toward a radiating sun. The design aims to convey a sense of interconnectedness and call attention to the need to protect our natural environment and the communities along the entire Tijuana River region.

Photography on this site by Surfrider Foundation and Veriditas Rising | Special thanks to Edgar Ontiveras Medina