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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Advocates face obstacles trying to connect San Diego youths to nature
Isaac Santos, 22, remembers growing up with family barbecues at his aunt's house in Imperial Beach, south of San Diego, and swimming with his cousins. Sure, the ocean was dirty sometimes, but the beaches were open and accessible. But since late 2021, swaths of the south San Diego coast have been closed every day — 1,345 days in a row and counting — because of sewage and industrial pollution flowing in from the Tijuana River. Santos is now an instructor with the nonprofit Outdoor Outreach, which connects youths to experiences in nature, and those pollution closures make it increasingly difficult to get the kids outdoors. 'They're not able to enjoy our waters in Imperial Beach — the nearest beach that they have to go to to have clean water access is at least 35 minutes away,' he said. Kids here don't have their own cars, he said, and their parents are too busy working to drive them to a cleaner beach far away. The access he had as a kid, he says, was crucial for finding a purpose, and confidence in the work he does now. For youths in South Bay communities such as Imperial Beach, San Ysidro and Nestor, worsening river conditions the last few years have stripped away not just recreational opportunities but a key part of community life. 'There are generations of kids that are growing up in the South Bay, San Diego without an experience of what a clean beach is — the ability to go in the water and feel better when you come out of it,' said Ben McCue, executive director of Outdoor Outreach. The Tijuana River is ranked the second-most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers. Data from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health & Quality show the Imperial Beach shoreline this year has been closed every day except for one. The contamination of the Tijuana River and beaches isn't the only obstacle for outdoor groups trying to educate the next generation. For years, groups such as Outdoor Outreach, Mar de Colores and Paddle for Peace have driven youths to cleaner beaches miles away from their homes, providing surfboards, kayaks, swimming lessons and safety instruction — often introducing kids to the ocean for the first time. But they have not been allowed to visit the beach on weekends, could go only between Memorial and Labor days, only to three beaches, and each group needed a permit for each activity, per the city of San Diego, which has jurisdiction over the closest safe beaches. 'It's very restrictive,' McCue said. And there's a large disparity. 'If you're a kid who has the resources to get to the beach, the parents who know where to go, who have the free time to take you, the equipment, all of our parks and beaches are open to you,' McCue said. In an effort to address such barriers, state lawmakers in 2024 passed AB 2939, to ensure nonprofit and tribal programs have equal access to parks and beaches. Advocates hoped it would bring local rules in line with the California Coastal Act's promise of access for all. It went into effect in January 2025, and for seven months, McCue said, groups like his had easier access, even to San Diego's Mission Bay, which has some of the closest and best beaches for children and families. But the city of San Diego has been fighting back against the new law. In a heated City Council meeting at the end of July, city officials argued for the restrictions 'because water-based instructional activities are inherently high-risk and drastically differ from activities on a beach or in a park. These requirements are designed to ensure that all operators, regardless of nonprofit status, meet the same rigorous standards necessary to protect participants, instructors, and the public.' The city of San Diego did not respond to requests for comment. Dozens of residents and youth advocates testified. 'They're citing safety and liability, but it's not based on data. It's not based on anything that we've done or any experiences that they've had with us,' said Ramon Chairez, director of education and environmental advocacy for Mar de Colores. 'If they knew who we were, they would know that we have incredible safety standards, we have one-to-one ratios with kids in terms of instructors and kids,' Chairez said. The resolution failed after community pushback and a letter from the California Coastal Commission reminding the city of the state law. City officials are now in talks with advocates to find a compromise. 'We need to make sure this summer kids can get out and experience the joy of putting their feet in the sand, standing up on a surfboard for the first time, and not being afraid of coming out and getting sick,' McCue said. Tijuana River pollution stems from decades of inadequate wastewater infrastructure on both sides of the border, compounded by rapid population growth in Tijuana. Officials from both countries recently announced new commitments to accelerate long-planned repairs. But even under the most optimistic timeline, many South Bay beaches will remain unsafe for years, said Phillip Musegaas, executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper. Dr. Vi Nguyen, a pediatrician in San Diego County, has seen the physiological toll the closures take on patient physical and mental health. 'Kids [that] don't have access to those areas is a very big concern for our pediatricians — kids need to be able, to be allowed to move their bodies, to play.' Nguyen concludes, 'playing in more natural spaces is healthier for them, we know that nature is quite restorative for kids.' Physicians are worried about rates of obesity, prediabetes, fatty liver and other metabolic diseases, she said. For advocates like Risa Bell, founder of Paddle for Peace, it is also about building environmental literacy, leadership and a sense of belonging. 'Access to the coast is not a luxury and it's not a privilege. It's a human right that's tied to health, culture and community well-being,' Bell said. 'If you want the next generation to fight for the ocean, they have to be able to safely touch it. … That's the only way that we're gonna raise the future environmental leaders that are ready to protect it not just for their communities but for everyone.' Advocates worry about 'shifting baselines' — the idea that each generation's understanding of what's normal is shaped by the degraded environment they inherit. 'Kids growing up in San Ysidro and Imperial Beach today, their experience is that the ocean's dirty and that you go in it and you get sick,' McCue said. 'We're trying to shift that to show them, actually, it doesn't have to be like this.' 'When you fall in love with the ocean, [you] grow up wanting to protect it,' Bell said. 'They're gonna grow up and be a part of that fight one day, right, but they can't protect a place that they're not even allowed to go to.'
Los Angeles Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump EPA commits to '100% cleanup' of chronically-polluted Tijuana River in MOU with Mexico
LOS ANGELES — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin Thursday committed the Trump administration to 'a permanent, 100% solution to the decades-old Tijuana River sewage crisis' in a new agreement signed with Mexico. 'I smelled for myself that foul smell that so many residents of Southern California have been complaining about for so long,' Zeldin said, adding that President Trump was highly motivated after hearing from Navy Seals who must train in the polluted waters of the Pacific Ocean where the Tijuana River meets the sea. 'Today, what we are demonstrating is that yes, it can be done,' said Mexico Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena, preparing to sign the memorandum of understanding or MOU. Pollution in the 120-mile long river has been so egregious that recent studies have shown that even the air above the river or the spray where it reaches the surf is dangerous. The Tijuana River begins in Baja California, Mexico, and discharges into the ocean at Imperial Beach, California. The pollution consists of sewage, including drugs and pharmaceuticals that people ingest, plus industrial discharges. According to the agreement, Mexico will shake loose $93 million in money it previously committed, known as 'Minute 238 funds.' Deadlines for several long-discussed improvements will also come sooner — some this year — it says. One example is the 10 million gallons per day of treated effluent that currently flow into the Tijuana River from the Arturo Herrera and La Morita wastewater treatment plants and will now go to a site upstream of the Rodriguez Dam. Zeldin said technical experts, leadership and U.S. staffers identified these as high priorities. The MOU also commits the two countries to taking into account Tijuana's growing population, to make sure that infrastructure improvements are not outstripped by changes on the ground. 'This is a massive step forward for the Tijuana River,' said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of the environmental group American Rivers. It has listed the river as the second most endangered in the US. Kristan Culbert, associate director of California river conservation at the organization American Rivers said she hoped the MOU negotiated by this administration 'will be the catalyst for a major turnaround for this river. The people and wildlife that depend on it deserve clean water and healthy ecosystems.' Others, like San Diego Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, question whether pollution from the Tijuana River flows would actually cease. 'The reality is that the Trump administration also could be doing more on our side,' said Aguirre, who is also a former mayor of Imperial Beach. Zeldin stressed cooperation with his counterpart, Bárcena. When asked about leverage that will assure changes are made, Zeldin cited money that could be withheld by the U.S. He emphasized it's the first agreement between the two governments under this administration. 'We're very proud of that,' he said.
New York Times
21-07-2025
- New York Times
Missouri Man Dies in Dam's Hydraulics While Trying to Save Trapped Boater
A Missouri man who jumped into a river to help a boater stranded in a dam died on Sunday after becoming trapped by the dam's hydraulics, the authorities said. The man, 54, was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said in an incident report. Emergency responders were dispatched to a water rescue of two people in the Elk River, , near Noel, Mo., at the southwest corner of the state, at around 5:35 p.m. on Sunday, the agency said in its report. One of the people had gone over a low-head dam in the river. According to the incident report, the man jumped into the water above the dam to help a boater who had become trapped in the powerful, washing machine-like waters at the base of the dam called the hydraulics. The man, whose name was not released, was then swept up by the current and pulled through the hydraulics, the agency said. He resurfaced downstream, where a bystander pulled him to safety, and emergency responders administered first aid. The man was transported to Ozarks Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The boater was uninjured, the highway patrol said. Lowhead dams are man-made structures that span waterways and allow water to continuously flow overtop, according to the environmental group American Rivers. They are sometimes referred to as 'drowning machines' because they can create a recirculating roller-like current at the base of the dam, which can trap people, boats or other objects, and make it nearly impossible to escape. About 50 fatalities typically occur each year at low-head dams across the United States, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Removing aging dams could help strengthen communities facing extreme weather: Report
Eliminating obsolete or unsafe dams could help bolster community safety amid climate-induced weather extremes, watershed experts are recommending. Storms and floods have intensified in both frequency and severity, since the construction of the dams — many of which are now in a state of disrepair, according to a new white paper, published by Utah State University. 'Removing dangerous and obsolete dams and barriers improves resilience to flooding, drought, increasing temperatures, sea level rise, and changing rivers,' said lead author Sarah Null, a professor of watershed sciences at Utah State University, in a statement. 'Many dams provide useful services and should not be removed,' Null acknowledged. 'But for those structures that are outdated or unsafe, removal can be a smart decision for communities.' Crossing the nation's rivers today are more than 550,000 dams and 298,000 transportation-related barriers, such as culverts, structures that enable water to flow underneath a road or railway. About 70 percent of U.S. dams have exceeded their designed lifespan, with 16,700 deemed high-hazard and a risk to people downstream, the authors explained, citing data from the National Inventory of Dams. The average age of American dams is 64, and the number of structures that are jeopardizing communities is surging, the researchers warned. 'Many of the dams we built decades ago are not equipped to handle today's extreme weather,' said co-author Ann Willis, regional California director of American Rivers, in a statement. 'In a lot of cases, aging dams and dams that are not adequately designed or maintained are ticking time bombs, putting people at risk,' Willis added. Removing obsolete dams rather than renovating them requires just a fraction of the expense associated with the latter — typically amounting to just 30 percent to 40 percent of the cost of a retrofit, according to the report. Dam and barrier elimination also provides a means for preserving cultural practices, by facilitating fish harvests in areas where the natural flow of native species has long been impaired, the authors noted. Restored river health and improvements in water quality can thereby help bring fish and wildlife back to their former habitats, while establishing cooler, free-flowing waters that are more capable of withstanding drought, per the report. The researchers acknowledge that dams can provide climate resilience benefits when they are well-maintained and offer cost-effective services. In places where removal would not be practical, the authors suggested creating additional storage and coordinating surface and groundwater management as promising strategies for reducing flood risk. But in so many cases over the past several years, communities have endured extreme weather conditions that have compromised dams — often when storm flow has surpassed dam design specifications, according to the report. 'Removing unsafe, outdated dams is a proven approach to restoring rivers and strengthening communities,' said co-author Shara Sparks, senior program officer for the Open Rivers Fund, in a statement. 'For communities challenged by extreme weather, restoring their rivers via dam and barrier removal can deliver a host of benefits,' Sparks added.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rivers are Life Highlights River Conservation at Wildlands 2025
Organization hosts river cleanup to support river conservation and awareness BIG SKY, MT / ACCESS Newswire / July 9, 2025 / Rivers are Life, a global conservation movement headquartered in Michigan that invests in the protection of rivers around the world, announced today its participation at this year's Wildlands music event in Big Sky, Montana. An event that is focused on supporting outdoor conservation and bringing outdoor enthusiasts together around a common cause, Rivers are Life will assist in kicking this year's event off by hosting a river cleanup for attendees on Friday, August 1st. In partnership with Outlaw Partners and the Wildlands event, Rivers are Life will host a river cleanup focusing on stopping trash from getting into one of Montana's most iconic waterways, the Gallatin River. Meet at the Big Sky Events Arena and join forces with other passionate organizations - American Rivers, Center for Large Landscapes, and the Gallatin River Task Force on Friday, August 1, from 10am until 1pm. This river cleanup follows the Wildlands Charity Night, which supports the incredible boots-on-the-ground initiatives being done by American Rivers and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. Those interested in participating in Friday's cleanup can head to this link to sign up now. "We are so excited to be part of this year's Wildlands Festival, spending time in beautiful Montana alongside like-minded brands and people who understand the importance of conserving our environment," said Katie Horning, VP of Marketing at Rivers are Life. "It's amazing to see this crowd come together through music and a shared love for the outdoors. This year marks our first-ever river cleanup at the festival, and we're especially proud to roll up our sleeves-because taking action on the ground is how real change begins. We're honored to support this cause and help raise awareness for river conservation." "We're grateful to have partners like Rivers are Life who support through action," said Megan Paulson, Co-founder and CMO of Outlaw Partners. "Their passion for rivers and the overall ethos of Wildlands through the river cleanup event is a meaningful way that will make a direct impact here in Montana." This year's Wildlands lineup features two nights of Dave Matthews as the headliner on Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2 where he will take the stage in Montana for the first time in 30 years. Wildlands celebrates the wild lands and incredible spaces that surround us through music and personal connection by directly supporting this year's event beneficiaries: American Rivers and Center for Large Landscape Conservation. Stay up to date on the latest conservation efforts from Rivers are Life by following on Instagram and learn more about the River Action membership program by heading to Contact Information: Katie Horning VP of Marketing, Rivers are Lifekhorning@ SOURCE: Rivers are Life press release
