“What do we want? More funding. When do we want it? Now.” These words rang out just feet from the empty waters of Coronado Central Beach. Around 50 high schoolers, local officials and Coronadians held up signs that read “save our sea,” “students for safe beaches now” and “healthy ocean=healthy people,” on the same shore riddled with bright yellow signs that display “SEWAGE CONTAMINATED WATER.”
The demonstration held on March 28 comes after a nearly century-long legacy of broken promises between United States and Mexican officials, and most recently, a major win by elected officials at the local, state and federal levels.
They were able to secure $156 million dollars in additional funding for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in an emergency appropriations measure adopted by Congress and signed by President Biden. The money, according to U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, is enough to stay on track with renovations and expansions to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment plant this year.
Cesar Solis, director of constituent services for the office of Peters, relayed a message for the representative at the Central Beach protest.
“As I’ve said many times, this isn’t a mission accomplished moment, or the end of my work to get the plant where it needs to be so that you all can enjoy your beautiful beaches without fear of getting sick,” Solis said on behalf of Peters.
Funds to be put toward South Bay plant
The goal is to double the plant’s capacity in order to combat the excess sewage being dumped into the Pacific Ocean.
The funding follows a request made by Biden this past fall asking lawmakers to authorize $310 million toward fixing the plant. Sewage cleanup advocates say the approved $156 million is a promising step.
“We are pulling bits together and getting shovels in the ground to get the project started, because once it’s started we firmly believe they won’t stop funding it mid-construction,” said Laura Wilkinson Sinton, co-founder of Stop the Sewage.
The allocated funds were a part of a $1.2 trillion appropriations package passed by Congress on March 23 for the 2024 fiscal year. The $156 million is a $103 million increase from the 2023 fiscal year.
“We are doing this [protest] to celebrate, rally and support Scott Peters and the additional funds, and make it clear that we will relentlessly be doing this until the full funding is there and our beaches are clean and safe to swim in again on a permanent basis,” said Wilkinson Sinton.
At the protest, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, alongside Coronado High School (CHS) students, urged President Biden to declare a federal state of emergency in order expedite the construction process.
Gallons of sewage cause unsafe waters
Over the last 5 years, The IBWC has reported over 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage, industrial waste and urban runoff poured into the Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean by the Tijuana River and its tributaries.
Public health officials have found indicators of pathogens such as enterococcus, E. Coli, salmonella and MRSA in the water.
These pathogens are proven to have adverse health effects, including infections, respiratory ailments and gastro-intestinal illness. A UCSD professor calculated over 34,000 people may have been sickened in 2017 as a result of the sewage in Imperial Beach.
Water closures in the South Bay are becoming increasingly prevalent as the sewage issue continues. In 2023, the Imperial Beach waters were closed for 322 days, the Silver Strand shoreline for 291 days and the Coronado shoreline for 191 days, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.
Coronado residents fight for change
Disheartened by the notorious bright yellow signs on her very own shores, Wilkinson Sinton came together with four other Coronado women to found Stop the Sewage in spring of last year.
“It became clear that the beaches were going to be closed for years – that this problem was much deeper and, sadly, predictable,” said Wilkinson Sinton.
Stop the Sewage primarily operates to promote education and action toward fixing the ongoing sewage issue. They held their first protest in May of last year, which is when Danny Vinegrad and Sean Wilbur approached the group about starting their own version of the organization at Coronado High School.
“I saw the opportunity to help the community because we all deserve better than a polluted environment,” said Vinegrad. “I’ve always loved the beach, but now I can’t enjoy it anymore – no one can enjoy it without the risk of getting sick.”
The CHS Stop the Sewage club has joined in on advocacy efforts since its launch in September. Club members have spoken at the California Coastal Commission meetings, participated in beach cleanups and protests, and sat with local representatives at their monthly club meetings.
CHS students lead March 28 protest
The two groups came together to plan the protest on March 28, with the Stop the Sewage nonprofit taking on more of an advisory role for the CHS club.
“The students at Coronado High School are the registered voters of tomorrow,” said Wilkinson Sinton. “Many will vote in the next election, and certainly the election after that. This generation will be deciding who these leaders are going to be, and I hope the leaders of today who want to run for reelection and serve longer in public office take note.”
Vinegrad and Wilbur enlisted the support of the local officials, CHS Emerald Keepers Club, CHS Junior Optimists Club and Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach for the protest.
Attendees were given the opportunity to sign postcards thanking Congress for their efforts, while asking for more funding. The Surfrider Foundation of San Diego County and the YMCA will be hand carrying the letters to Congress in the next few weeks.
The evening was filled with chants and calls for action in the midst of environmental progress.
“Whose beaches are these?” Paloma yelled over the megaphone. “Ours,” the gathered Coronadians shouted back.
