Protecting the estuary from sedimentation
Salt marsh habitat throughout Southern California is jeopardized by stormwater flows and sedimentation. In the Tijuana River Estuary, tidal channels and salt marsh habitat have been significantly impacted by sedimentation. The Goat Canyon Sediment Basins were constructed in 2005 to stop excess sediment flowing from a highly disturbed canyon landscape in Mexico. These basins capture up to 60,000 cubic yards of sediment and solid waste each winter and must be cleaned out every fall. The Stewardship Program plays an active role in managing this facility.
The southern end of the Tijuana Estuary has been clogged with excess sediment from unregulated construction in Tijuana. This area used to be heathy marsh land similar to what is seen in the estuary closer to Imperial Beach.