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San Diego County gains new authority and tax revenue for Tijuana River cleanup

San Diego County gains new authority and tax revenue for Tijuana River cleanup

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Supervisors now hold new hiring and budget powers, plus a half-cent sales tax Voice of San Diego estimates at $400 million to $450 million a year.

5 days ago: County supervisors gain new authority and tax revenue

Overview

Updated 4 days ago

San Diego County supervisors came out of the November election with more control over county government and a new half-cent sales tax for health care, public safety and the Tijuana River. Voice of San Diego put the tax revenue at $400 million to $450 million a year.

The county is already spending on the ground. On Nov. 5, supervisors authorized a $2.5 million contract to extend drainage pipes at Saturn Boulevard, a hot spot for hydrogen sulfide, with construction set for early 2027. In October the county named veteran diplomat Bridget Premont to coordinate its response across agencies.

Why it matters

If the new tax revenue and authority work, San Diego County can treat sewage before it reaches beaches and neighborhoods; if not, closures continue.

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Key Indicators

$400M–$450M
Annual sales tax revenue
Voice of San Diego's Nov. 6 estimate of yearly revenue from the half-cent Measure B sales tax.
Tens of millions
Annual Tijuana River earmark
Measure B commits tens of millions of dollars a year to the Tijuana River crisis, per Voice of San Diego.
$1B
Potential bond capacity
Annual tax revenue could back $700 million to $1 billion in bonds for treatment facilities.
$1.8M
Design funding
County supervisors approved this amount to design a river capture and treatment system.
$4M
Saturn Boulevard fixes
The board unanimously approved this in September for immediate fixes at a sewage hot spot on Saturn Boulevard.
$2.5M
Saturn Boulevard pipe contract
Construction contract authorized Nov. 5 to extend drainage culverts below the pond surface and cut airborne pollutants.

Voices

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People Involved

Terra Lawson-Remer
Terra Lawson-Remer
Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Board chair; supervisors gained new hiring and budget authority under Measure A
 Paloma Aguirre
Paloma Aguirre
Board Chair Pro Tem, San Diego County Board of Supervisors
South Bay supervisor; pressed for a single county point of accountability on the pollution crisis
 Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson
San Diego County supervisor
San Diego County supervisor; cast lone no vote on design funding
 Bridget Premont
Bridget Premont
County Pollution Crisis Chief, San Diego County
Appointed Oct. 19, 2026, to coordinate the county's Tijuana River response

Organizations Involved

San Diego County Board of Supervisors
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
County legislature
Passed Measure A and Measure B; authorized a $2.5 million Saturn Boulevard pipe extension on Nov. 5

The five-member board governs San Diego County and is leading the county's response to Tijuana River pollution.

Timeline

September 2026 November 2026

5 events Latest: 5 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. County supervisors gain new authority and tax revenue

    Latest Election

    Voice of San Diego reports Measure A and a countywide sales tax give supervisors more power and money for Tijuana River cleanup.

  2. County advances $2.5 million Saturn Boulevard pipe extension

    Policy

    Supervisors adopted an agreement with the City of San Diego, found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, and authorized a $2.5 million construction contract to cut hydrogen sulfide and airborne pollutants. Construction is set for early 2027 through summer 2027.

  3. County appoints pollution crisis chief

    Appointment

    San Diego County named veteran diplomat Bridget Premont to a new position coordinating federal, state and local agencies on Tijuana River pollution. Her duties include securing infrastructure funding and bilingual outreach to affected communities.

  4. EPA reports progress on federal sewage projects

    Infrastructure

    The Environmental Protection Agency said the parallel gravity line was finished, Phase 2 of the Tijuana River Gates was under construction, and the first major contract was awarded for expanding the South Bay treatment plant. Crews also cleared about 16,622 feet of pilot channel ahead of a forecast strong El Niño winter.

  5. Supervisors approve Tijuana River cleanup plan

    Policy

    Board votes 4-1 to spend $1.8 million designing a river capture and treatment system; also approves $4 million for Saturn Boulevard.

Scenarios

1

County builds treatment plant and cuts sewage flow

Likely Resolves by End of 2030

Discussed by: County supervisors and CalMatters reporting

The county uses bond financing backed by the half-cent sales tax to design and build a river capture and treatment system. The first phase would divert polluted river water before it reaches southern San Diego communities.

2

Tax revenue falls short or bond financing stalls

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Supervisor Joel Anderson and county fiscal analyses

If sales tax revenue underperforms or legal challenges block bond issuance, the county cannot finance the $700 million to $1 billion construction cost. Supervisors would have to scale back or seek federal and state money.

3

Binational deal makes local plant unnecessary

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: North American Development Bank and federal officials

Mexico and U.S. agencies complete wastewater upgrades that capture most river flows, reducing pressure for a county-owned plant. The county redirects tax money to smaller fixes.

4

Saturn Boulevard pipe extension cuts odors by summer 2027

Likely Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: San Diego County supervisors and the Imperial Beach news report

The county builds the $2.5 million culvert extension at Saturn Boulevard, moving outflow below the pond surface to reduce turbulence and hydrogen sulfide release. The county calls it an interim step, not a permanent fix, and says it will keep five years of monitoring under its agreement with the City of San Diego.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1960s-present

Tijuana River sewage crisis (1960s-present)

Raw sewage, industrial chemicals and pesticides have flowed north across the border for decades. Treatment plants on both sides filter some waste, but failures have released hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the river.

Then

Beach closures became routine in Imperial Beach and Coronado; hydrogen sulfide levels near Saturn Boulevard reached 4,500 parts per billion.

Now

The federal government has dedicated about $650 million to repairs, and Mexico has invested $145 million over three years, but pollution still bypasses plants.

Why this matters now

The county's new plan is an attempt to capture river water on the U.S. side rather than rely on plants in Mexico or federal fixes.

2010s-2020s

Federal wastewater plant upgrades (2010s-2020s)

Wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. and Mexico failed over the last decade, releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage. Recent upgrades helped reduce pollution, and the federal government dedicated about $650 million to repairs.

Then

Pollution decreased but some flows still bypass plants.

Now

The upgrades did not capture all river water, leaving the case for a new diversion system.

Why this matters now

The county plan targets the remaining untreated river flows that existing plants do not capture.

Sources

(7)
+1
Voice of San Diego Los Angeles Times CalMatters NBC 7 San Diego Imperial Beach News Times of San Diego U.S. Environmental Protection Agency