This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $3,452,972 to the county of SAN diego to implement its project to dredge smuggler's gulch (water infrastructure on the U.S.-mexico border)…

Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 awarded a Cooperative Agreement of $3,452,972 to the County of San Diego on January 1, 2026, to dredge Smuggler's Gulch and pilot channel within the Tijuana River Valley. The award implements the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) as directed in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The County will remove trash, debris, and sediment from Smuggler's Gulch and pilot channel, sort the removed material for recycling or reuse potential, and dispose of remaining debris at local landfills. The dredging effort will maintain channel capacity and address local flooding and health concerns in the Tijuana River Valley. The project responds to a June 2023 San Diego County Board of Supervisors proclamation of a local environmental emergency for water pollution at the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses elevated sediment-filled runoff from recent construction on the Mexican side.

Total dollars obligated reach $4,316,215, which includes pre-award costs approved retroactively to January 1, 2026. Performance extends from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, with all work conducted in California. The County of San Diego (operating under its Parks department designation) receives full federal funding with no sub-recipients involved.

This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $3,452,972 to the county of SAN diego to implement its project to dredge smuggler's gulch (water infrastructure on the U.S.-mexico border) as directed in the 2023 consolidated appropriations act. Pre-award costs are approved back to 1/1/2026. Refer to terms and conditions. Activities:the activities to be performed include the removal of trash, debris and sediment from smuggler's gulch and pilot channel within the tijuana river valley. Removed debris will then be sorted to see what can be recycled/reused, while the rest is taken to local landfills. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables are the clearing out of the smuggler's gulch and pilot channel to maintain channel capacity and address local flooding and health concerns. In june 2023, the county of SAN diego board of supervisors proclaimed a local environmental emergency for water pollution at the U.S.-mexico border and urged agencies at all levels (local, state and federal) to take action to address ongoing pollution issues. The city and county of SAN diego have regularly performed dredging in smuggler's gulch and other canyons in the tijuana river valley; however, there is more extensive need in smuggler's gulch given recent construction on the mexican side of the border with very high levels of sediment-filled runoff. Intended beneficiaries would be the region at large including the natural environment as well as local communities in the tijuana river valley as the dredging efforts will help clean up the canyon and also reduce exposure to trash and debris by local residents.