Assemblymember David Alvarez & Supervisor Aguirre Call for Immediate Allocation of $46 Million in State Funds to Address Cross-Border Pollution

San Diego, CA – Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) announced today that $46 million in state funds have been secured through Senate Bill 105 to address the ongoing environmental and public health crisis caused by untreated sewage and industrial waste flowing through cross-border rivers into California communities. Along with San Diego County Supervisor, Paloma Aguirre, he urged the State Water Resources Control Board to act with urgency in releasing these funds to prioritize projects the Tijuana River Valley.

“South Bay families have lived with the daily reality of toxic air and water for far too long,” said Assemblymember Alvarez. “I am proud to have secured $46 million in the state budget that will help make meaningful progress. The State Water Board must act swiftly to allocate these funds to projects that will protect public health, our beaches, and our environment. Thank you to voters for supporting Prop 4, and to Governor Newsom for signing SB 105 into law.”

For decades, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater have poured into the Tijuana River Valley, carrying bacteria, heavy metals, and industrial contaminants. The crisis has forced the repeated and extended closures of South San Diego beaches, harmed local ecosystems, and even disrupted Navy SEALs training operations. Air quality studies from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have linked up to 73% of bacteria in Imperial Beach’s air directly to wastewater from the river. Residents report headaches, nausea, and being unable to open windows at night due to the stench.

“Let me be clear: this is more than an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency, the most severe in the western hemisphere, and we must treat it as such. For too long, our community has endured the toxic impact of untreated sewage flowing into the Tijuana River Valley. The State Water Resources Control Board must act quickly to release the $46 million already allocated to address cross-border pollution. These funds are critical to tackling one of the most dangerous sources of contamination—the Saturn Boulevard hot spot. This site has fueled illness and suffering in our community for years. It is long overdue for removal.”

The Saturn Boulevard hot spot, where contaminated flows collect and fester, has been identified by scientists and advocates as one of the most dangerous sites in the region. Local families who live nearby face higher risks of illness, while the broader community endures the loss of safe access to coastal resources.

“We know enough now to act. No one should be breathing this toxic air for another day,” said Dr. Kimberly Prather, Distinguished Professor at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Department of Chemistry. “Every delay means more families, children, and communities at risk. We need partners at every level to step in. I am grateful to our state representatives for making these funds a priority in the budget, and I urge our state agencies to move with the same urgency to put them to work.”

The $46 million allocation was made possible through voter-approved Proposition 4, reflecting Californians’ call for stronger investments in clean air, clean water, and wildfire protection. The State Water Resources Control Board will now initiate a process to allocate the funds to specific projects in California’s cross-border rivers.

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The 80th Assembly District includes the communities of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, Lincoln Acres, Bonita, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro, along with the cities of Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach.