By County News Center
San Diego, CA–The County Board of Supervisors approved a plan Tuesday to expand dredging work in the Tijuana River Valley to remove trash and sediment and help reduce flooding impacts from the Tijuana River.
The work will improve the conditions in two channels that run through the Valley, impacting residents and visitors to the Tijuana River Valley and nearby communities of Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, and Otay Mesa.
The Board’s action extends the County’s current dredging in Smuggler’s Gulch beyond the County-owned and managed Tijuana River Valley Regional Park to include land in Smuggler’s Gulch that is owned by the City of San Diego and the City of San Diego’s Pilot Channel.
The work is funded by over $4 million in grant funding and $750,000 of County funds for a total investment of $5.1 million.
Dredging is the physical removal of accumulated trash and debris which helps clear blockages and improve water flow for a healthier environment.
Historically, even minor rains in this area have led to flooding events which have been a contributor to a County-wide state of emergency being declared due to ongoing environmental and economic impacts.
The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park encompasses approximately 1,800 acres of land with 22.5 miles of multi-use trails, a bird and butterfly garden, the County’s largest community garden, baseball fields, soccer fields, and natural open space.
In addition to the active healthy living the park’s recreation and natural beauty provide for people, it is also home to a variety of native plants and animals.
Healthy management of these lands adds to the overall environmental health of the region and supports the County’s Climate Action Plan Update by making the environment more resilient in the face of a changing climate.
