The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) announced on Sept. 23 that the majority of Imperial Beach shoreline is now open to the public.
The county has lifted the water contact closure for Cortez Avenue and the end of Seacoast Drive following recent water quality tests that confirmed the water meets state health standards and considered safe for residents and visitors.
This announcement follows the majority of the Imperial Beach shoreline being closed to the public since December 2023 said Chairwoman Nora Vargas in a statement on Sept. 23.
“While this is a positive step forward, having our beaches open and safe should be the norm, not the exception,” said Vargas. “There is still more work to be done to reopen the remaining shoreline, and I remain committed to pushing for comprehensive solutions to this long-standing environmental issue because our families deserve clean, safe beaches year-round.”
While this bring some relief—such as fewer airborne pollutants and the reopening of more of our shoreline for recreation—significant portions of Imperial Beach beaches still remain closed, said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre.
Aguirre said a reduction in sewage flows from the Tijuana River are encouraging improvements that mark a positive step in addressing the pollution crisis, yet the river is still transporting an alarming 5 million gallons of sewage per day into nearby coastal waters.
“Two miles of beach surrounding the Tijuana River are still unsafe for public use,” said Aguirre in an email to The Coronado News. “This is unacceptable for our community. We cannot afford to become complacent. We must continue to hold both the U.S. federal government and the Mexican government accountable. The residents of Imperial Beach deserve clean air, clean water and safe beaches. Our pressure on these institutions must not waver until a permanent solution is achieved, and our environment, public health, and economy are fully protected.”
