San Diego Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Binational Grants to Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis and Restore Coastal Habitats
The San Diego Foundation (SDF) has announced nearly $1 million in Binational Resilience Initiative (BRI) grants, totaling $983,439, to fund 10 projects involving 21 nonprofit organizations in the United States and Mexico. These grants are aimed at addressing the persistent Tijuana River sewage crisis and restoring coastal habitats in the Cali-Baja region. The Tijuana River sewage crisis significantly impacts water quality, public health, and communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The funded projects will focus on reducing pollution, preparing for flooding, improving wastewater treatment, enhancing community understanding of water quality data, and restoring sensitive coastal ecosystems. Pamela Gray Payton, vice president, chief impact and partnerships officer at San Diego Foundation, emphasized that water and pollution do not stop at the border, necessitating a coordinated binational response.
