Isaac Santos reminisces about his childhood filled with family barbecues and swimming at the beaches of Imperial Beach, situated just south of San Diego.
Those joyful memories feel distant now, as beaches along the south San Diego coast have been closed daily for over 1,345 consecutive days due to sewage and industrial pollution originating from the Tijuana River.
Now, at 22, Santos works as an instructor with Outdoor Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting youths with nature.
However, the ongoing pollution makes it increasingly challenging for him to provide outdoor experiences for the kids in his community.
“They’re not able to enjoy our waters in Imperial Beach — the nearest beach that they have to go to to have clean water access is at least 35 minutes away,” he explained.
Santos points out that many local kids don’t have cars, and their families are often too busy working to take them further afield to cleaner beaches.
He believes that the access he enjoyed as a child played a significant role in developing a sense of purpose and confidence that informs his current work.
For the youth in South Bay communities like Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, and Nestor, the deteriorating conditions of the Tijuana River have stripped away not only recreational opportunities but also a fundamental aspect of community life.
“There are generations of kids that are growing up in the South Bay, San Diego without an experience of what a clean beach is — the ability to go in the water and feel better when you come out of it,” said Ben McCue, executive director of Outdoor Outreach.
The Tijuana River has been recognized as the second-most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers.
According to data from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health & Quality, the Imperial Beach shoreline has remained closed every day this year, with only one exception.
The pollution crisis affecting the Tijuana River and nearby beaches presents challenges not only for the health of the environment but also for organizations like Outdoor Outreach that strive to educate the next generation.
In their efforts to combat these barriers, groups such as Outdoor Outreach, Mar de Colores, and Paddle for Peace have organized trips to cleaner beaches located miles from the communities they serve.
They provide essential equipment like surfboards and kayaks, as well as swimming lessons and safety training, often introducing kids to the ocean for the very first time.
Despite their efforts, these organizations face significant restrictions.
Access to beaches has been limited to only between Memorial Day and Labor Day, restricted to just three beaches, and each group is required to obtain a permit for every activity, as stipulated by the city of San Diego, which governs the nearest safe beaches.
“This is very restrictive,” McCue commented.
Moreover, a stark disparity exists between those who have the means and knowledge to access beaches and those who do not.
“If you’re a kid who has the resources to get to the beach, the parents who know where to go, who have the free time to take you, the equipment, all of our parks and beaches are open to you,” McCue said.
In an effort to address this issue, state lawmakers passed AB 2939 in 2024, intending to ensure nonprofit and tribal programs have equitable access to parks and beaches.
The law was enacted in January 2025, allowing groups like Outdoor Outreach to gain easier access to various local beaches, including Mission Bay, which is among the closest and most favorable locations for children and families.
However, the city of San Diego has opposed the new law, citing safety and liability concerns linked to water-based instructional activities.
During a contentious City Council meeting in late July, city officials argued that these activities are inherently high-risk and differ significantly from other recreational activities in parks or on beaches.
The city’s officials stated that their requirements are designed to ensure all operators, regardless of nonprofit status, meet stringent standards to protect participants, instructors, and the public.
In response, many community members and youth advocates expressed frustration.
“They’re citing safety and liability, but it’s not based on data. It’s not based on anything that we’ve done or any experiences that they’ve had with us,” asserted Ramon Chairez, director of education and environmental advocacy for Mar de Colores.
Chairez further explained, “If they knew who we were, they would know that we have incredible safety standards, we have one-to-one ratios with kids in terms of instructors and kids.”
After community backlash and a letter from the California Coastal Commission reinforcing the state law, the resolution to maintain the restrictions failed.
Currently, city officials are in discussions with advocates to find a potential compromise.
“We need to make sure this summer kids can get out and experience the joy of putting their feet in the sand, standing up on a surfboard for the first time, and not being afraid of coming out and getting sick,” McCue emphasized.
The pollution crisis in the Tijuana River has escalated into a public health and environmental issue.
This issue has its roots in decades of inadequate wastewater infrastructure on both sides of the border, exacerbated by rapid population growth in Tijuana.
Officials from the U.S. and Mexico have recently announced new commitments to expedite long-planned repairs of the wastewater systems.
However, even in the best-case scenario, many South Bay beaches are expected to remain unsafe for years, as noted by Phillip Musegaas, executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper.
Dr. Vi Nguyen, a pediatrician in San Diego County, acknowledges the physiological and mental health impacts of these closures on children.
“It’s a very big concern for our pediatricians — kids need to be able, to be allowed to move their bodies, to play,” she explains.
Dr. Nguyen warns that restricted access to natural spaces may lead to increased rates of obesity, prediabetes, fatty liver, and other metabolic issues among children.
For advocates like Risa Bell, founder of Paddle for Peace, access to coastal areas is fundamentally about fostering environmental literacy, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging.
“Access to the coast is not a luxury and it’s not a privilege. It’s a human right that’s tied to health, culture, and community well-being,” Bell contends.
She stresses, “If you want the next generation to fight for the ocean, they have to be able to safely touch it.
That’s the only way that we’re gonna raise the future environmental leaders that are ready to protect it not just for their communities but for everyone.”
Advocates are increasingly concerned about the phenomenon of “shifting baselines,” where each generation’s perception of normalcy is shaped by the degraded environment they inherit.
“Kids growing up in San Ysidro and Imperial Beach today, their experience is that the ocean’s dirty and that you go in it and you get sick,” McCue said.
The aim of local organizations is to change this narrative and demonstrate to the youth that it doesn’t have to be this way.
image source from：latimes
