Twin announcements Tuesday could bring welcome relief to the ongoing pollution crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border in the Tijuana River Valley.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced the beginning of a state-funded pilot project featuring floating trash booms made partially from recycled material.
The $4.7 million project, financed by California’s Water Resources Control Board and managed by the nonprofit Rural Community Assistance Corporation, is intended to intercept and collect large items of trash such as tires and appliances dumped into the river.
“California is working with our local and federal partners to address the ongoing Tijuana River crisis,” Newsom said. “This project to stop trash from clogging the river is part of an all-of-the-above approach we’re taking to help protect Tijuana River valley communities.”
The plastic and steel trash booms — scheduled to be deployed for the next two storm seasons — were actually deployed on Nov. 14, but Tuesday marked the first day they began collecting debris.