The project will, over two years, reduce marine debris originating in LOS laureles canyon, a tributary of the tijuana river, from entering the pacific ocean at the united states-mexico border

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide $351,900 under the Marine Debris Program (CFDA 11.999) to Wildcoast through a cooperative agreement from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023. The funding will support a project to reduce marine debris originating in Los Laureles Canyon, a tributary of the Tijuana River, from entering the Pacific Ocean at the United States-Mexico border over two years. Specific services will focus on decreasing trans-border pollution to improve the ecological health of over 18,987 acres of protected areas in the U.S. and Mexico, including estuarine reserves, regional parks, state marine conservation areas, and biosphere reserves that provide critical habitat for various species and are used for outdoor recreation. The project aims to help reduce marine debris on Tijuana's beaches and prevent debris from entering Pacific islands.

The project will improve the ecological health of 18,987 acres of protected areas in the united states including: the 2,293-acre tijuana river national estuarine research reserve; 1,800-acre tijuana river valley regional park preserve, home to over 300 bird species; and the 1,930-acre tijuana river mouth state marine conservation area, a critical habitat for leopard sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and california spiny lobster. In baja california, the project will help reduce marine debris on tijuana's beaches and prevent debris from entering pacific islands biosphere reserve. The project will benefit important outdoor recreation areas within low income, park-poor communities in the border region that are continuously impacted by cross-border pollution. The project will focus on reducing trans-border