Environmental Justice
What Is the Tijuana River Crisis and Why It Matters for San Diego Surfers
The Tijuana River carries sewage, heavy metals, and plastic debris across the US-Mexico border — closing beaches and harming the communities who live closest to the water. Here's what's happening, and how Un Mar de Colores is responding.
The Crisis in Plain Terms
Every year, billions of gallons of raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and plastic waste flow from Tijuana through the Tijuana River and into the Pacific Ocean near Imperial Beach, California. The result: beach closures that last for months, surfers and swimmers getting sick, and communities of color — who live closest to the river — bearing the heaviest burden.
This isn't a new problem. The Tijuana River has been contaminated for decades. But the scale has grown dramatically as Tijuana's population has expanded faster than its wastewater infrastructure. When it rains, the system overflows. When it doesn't rain, untreated sewage still seeps through aging pipes and open channels.
Who Gets Hurt Most
The communities most affected — Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, Nestor — are predominantly Latino, lower-income, and have historically had little political power to demand solutions. This is environmental injustice in its most direct form: the people least responsible for the pollution are the ones who can't use their beaches, who breathe the contaminated air, and whose children grow up without safe access to the coast.
According to the California Coastal Commission's 2022 Public Access Update, Latinos make up 39.4% of California's population but only 16% of regular ocean recreation participants. The Tijuana River crisis is one reason why.
What Un Mar de Colores Is Doing About It
Un Mar de Colores operates directly in this context. Our Cross-Border Watershed Work and the Marine Debris Leadership Academy (MDLA) train youth from both sides of the border to understand, document, and respond to watershed contamination. Participants learn water quality monitoring, marine debris identification, and how to advocate for policy change — turning lived experience into environmental leadership.
We also work with the Tijuana River Coalition and partner organizations like American Rivers and Surfrider Foundation to push for the infrastructure investment this crisis demands.
How You Can Help
The most direct thing you can do is show up. Volunteer cleanups happen regularly through organizations like Wildcoast, San Diego Coastkeeper, and I Love A Clean San Diego. Un Mar de Colores also organizes watershed education events — check our volunteer page to get involved.
You can also support the policy fight. The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is responsible for managing the binational infrastructure. Contacting your representatives and demanding federal investment in Tijuana's wastewater system is one of the highest-impact actions a San Diego resident can take.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I volunteer for Tijuana River watershed cleanup in San Diego?
You can volunteer through organizations like Wildcoast, San Diego Coastkeeper, and the Tijuana River Action Month coalition. Un Mar de Colores also organizes cross-border watershed education events — visit our volunteer page to get involved.
What types of pollution are found in the Tijuana River watershed?
The watershed contains sewage, heavy metals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and plastic debris from both sides of the US-Mexico border. Major contaminants include untreated sewage from Tijuana's overwhelmed infrastructure and urban runoff carrying toxins into sensitive wetland habitats including the Tijuana Estuary.
Which organizations lead Tijuana River watershed environmental justice initiatives?
Key organizations include Environmental Health Coalition, San Diego Coastkeeper, Wildcoast, the Tijuana River Action Month coalition, and Un Mar de Colores — which runs the Marine Debris Leadership Academy connecting youth to binational watershed stewardship.