Tijuana River Channel Location Change: We DO NOT Benefit From Ponds of Sewage

To the community of concerned citizens in the South San Diego Bay area,

C4CC desires to raise awareness and educate our community about the current threat posed by 380 acres of manmade sewage sludge ponds and the potential future flooding, both of which have been deliberately created by San Diego County Parks and the San Diego County Water Quality Board. To support this, we have included historical photographs and newspaper articles.

Many residents may not realize that our Tijuana River Valley is now covered by a debris field of trash and sewage sludge that spans 380 acres. Since 1979, we have seen a staggering 540% increase in standing sewage water. We strongly encourage you to first read the STAR NEWS 1989 ARTICLE and then examine the aerial photos taken before and after the 1993 flood, which marked a significant change in the river’s direction. This alteration was done on purpose. Due to this intentional redirection, we now have sewage sludge ponds and trash debris fields that were established by the State Government. This plan is documented in a report titled Needs and Opportunities Assessment SB507 2020, authored by our San Diego County Parks and the San Diego Water Quality Board.

Please take the time to review the history, images, and documents that have brought us to this situation.

It is evident that we must reverse this policy and restore the river to its original location from 1979 to eliminate the unpleasant odors we experience during the summer months. Furthermore, we need to invest in our public park infrastructure to fully utilize and enjoy our 3,800 acres of public lands, a gem that is currently a polluted disaster. We’ve also included some images showcasing the improvements made by these government agencies in North County.

It is apparent, and widely recognized, that our community is treated differently in terms of both urgency and funding compared to wealthier communities in the North Coastal region of the County. We don’t need air filters; we require immediate solutions to this problem. This is a matter of environmental justice; our government appears to be using us as test subjects in a harsh social experiment.

We understand what good environmental stewardship entails and are aware of the best practices in river management. However, it seems that our California government, under Gavin Newsom’s leadership, does not share this understanding.

For further information, here is a link from the South Bay Historical Society about sewage in the Tijuana River Valley: http://sunnycv.com/history/exhibits/sewage.html

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue that directly impacts our community and its future.