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A 1,200-foot trash boom in the Tijuana River stopped approximately 20 tons of debris from entering California in just over an hour during a rainstorm on October, according to a report from BorderReport,com. Why It Matters There have been longstanding health and environmental concerns regarding the flow of sewage, trash and contaminated water into the U.S. from Mexico. What To Know The device—managed by Alter Terra, a binational ecosystem conservation nonprofit—is secured in place across the river with 120 tons of concrete to prevent it from drifting away, according to BorderReport.com, a news outlet owned by Nexstar Media Group. The boom’s central section has been reinforced and strengthened to improve durability and eliminate gaps that might allow debris to pass through. It also includes “fence-like” partitions to funnel and capture floating trash effectively, the outlet said. “All of this trash, 100 percent of it, comes from Mexico,” Alter Terra’s director Oscar Romo told the outlet. A drone monitored the site to confirm that debris did not circumvent the boom. “We were looking at the river, there was no trash beyond the boom, we’re stopping it right here,” Romo said. Over the last rainy season, the boom successfully intercepted 500 tons of trash, as reported by BorderReport.com. A view shows garbage in the Tijuana River channeling south of the Mexico-U.S. border in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on August 6, 2025. The Tijuana River, which crosses from Mexico into California before emptying into the Pacific Ocean, carries not only water but also trash and millions of gallons of untreated sewage. Communities in the U.S. such as Coronado and Imperial Beach have repeatedly faced beach closures amid the contamination brought over by the river. Pollution in the river has led to advocacy group American Rivers listing it as the second most endangered river in the U.S. What People Are Saying Oscar Romo, director of Alter Terra said, as reported by BorderReport.com: “In a little more than an hour, we got 20 tons of trash. “If this is an indication of what’s coming, we expect a lot more than 500 tons this season.” Conservation nonprofit American Rivers on the Tijuana River: “The Tijuana River is known for its communities on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border as well as stunning beaches, world-class surf breaks and diverse wildlife. This region, however, has been plagued with severe pollution for decades. Every day, millions of gallons of contaminated stormwater, sewage, harmful chemicals, and trash flow down the river into the Pacific Ocean.” What Happens Next The trash boom will remain in place through next spring, according to BorderReport.com.
