Today, San Diego County Acting Chair Terra Lawson-Remer joined Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to unveil a new plan to advance and accelerate stronger County action on the ongoing sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley.

Standing alongside community members, health professionals, and educators, Mayor Aguirre outlined her 5-point County Sewage Action Plan, calling for targeted investments to address environmental and health risks, support impacted schools and families, and coordinate a more effective regional response.

“South County families are living through a toxic health emergency—and the County’s budget puts just 0.02% toward addressing it. That’s not serious, that’s shameful,” said Mayor Paloma Aguirre. “Basic steps from the County could make an urgent difference—eliminating the worst toxic hot spot on the Tijuana River and protecting children’s health from poisonous sewage odors. With momentum for solutions to the sewage finally building in Washington, there’s no excuse for the County to stay on the sidelines.”

Supervisor Lawson-Remer commended Mayor Aguirre’s leadership and voiced support for the plan’s focus on public health, infrastructure, and accountability.

“Mayor Aguirre has put forward a clear, thoughtful plan grounded in what families and workers are experiencing every day,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. “From school air quality to toxic hot spots like the Saturn Boulevard culvert, these are the kinds of community-driven solutions we should be working to advance. I’m proud to stand with Mayor Aguirre today, and committed to continuing this partnership as we work to strengthen our region’s response.”

Mayor Aguirre’s County Sewage Action Plan includes proposals to:

● Eliminate toxic hot spots through stormwater upgrades in partnership with state and federal agencies

● Improve air quality in schools and childcare centers with enhanced filtration and ventilation systems

● Conduct a comprehensive public health study focused on hydrogen sulfide exposure

● Assess the economic impact of the crisis on local businesses and homeowners

● Establish a County-level Sewage Crisis Chief to coordinate cross-agency efforts and improve transparency

Supervisor Lawson-Remer also announced she will schedule a hearing at a County Board of Supervisors meeting this month to further explore these proposals.

“This is a regional crisis that demands a coordinated response,” said Lawson-Remer. “This plan reflects our shared commitment to advancing practical, community-informed solutions to tackling the sewage crisis polluting our beaches.”

Today’s announcement builds on Supervisor Lawson-Remer’s efforts to partner with Imperial Beach to address the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis—efforts she elevated in her 2025 State of the County Address. In that speech, she emphasized the need for bold local leadership when federal action falls short and underscored the importance of both immediate protections—like air purifiers, testing, and stormwater improvements—and long-term solutions like investing in infrastructure.

Read the full plan: Here

A full video of the press conference is available: Here

A video of the State of the County Address is available at: Here