Coast Diagnosis of the Tijuana–San Diego Region
Our Objective
The purpose of the One Coast, One Community initiative supported by this Coast Diagnosis of the San Diego, Tijuana, and Rosarito region, is to generate and disseminate accessible information about water quality and coastal erosion in the San Diego, Tijuana, and Rosarito region through an open science and citizen participation approach.
This approach aims to facilitate the understanding of climate vulnerability and promote binational community empowerment for greater resilience.
Community members, educators, and local authorities are encouraged to use the report elaborated by Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental in 2023 and the interactive dashboard developed by the Foro Permanente de Aguas Binacionales to create their own Water Contamination Map
Justification for the Coast Diagnosis
The increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change highlights the importance of achieving greater coastal resilience.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 94 trillion dollars will be invested in protection infrastructures worldwide in the next 20 years due to climate change.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report 2023 likewise highlights that investing in adaptation and mitigation—guided by insights like those in this Coast Diagnosis—can substantially reduce future climate costs.
Read the full Coast Diagnosis Report
In this context, the Tijuana-San Diego region faces significant challenges due to its climate vulnerability and high water stress. Intense and sudden rains, combined with rising temperatures, cause significant damage to the region’s infrastructure.
This Coast Diagnosis highlights how these combined pressures intensify risks to both the environment and local communities.
The projected decrease in rainfall by 2040, combined with high water stress, threatens water availability and exacerbates erosion and contamination problems.
Download the full report “Diagnosis of Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Contamination in the Tijuana–San Diego Coastal Zone”, and explore key findings to support smarter coastal management and cross-border solutions.
Descripción del Área de Estudio
El área de estudio abarca una superficie total de 102.4 km², de los cuales 59.3 km² se encuentran en México y 43 km² en Estados Unidos. La región costera de Estados Unidos incluye las ciudades de Coronado e Imperial Beach, conectadas por la barra arenosa de Silver Strand. En México, la zona de estudio abarca 24 km de zona costera en los municipios de Tijuana y Playas de Rosarito.
Hallazgos Clave
Cliff Erosion
La erosión de las playas y acantilados afecta tanto a la infraestructura como a los ecosistemas costeros. La geomorfología mixta de la región y la presencia de materiales sedimentarios poco consolidados agravan este problema.
Wastewater Contamination
El vertimiento de aguas residuales sin tratamiento adecuado contamina el agua marina, afectando la salud pública y la biodiversidad. Los sistemas de saneamiento actuales son insuficientes para manejar el volumen de aguas residuales en la región.
Principales Problemas Identificados
Sanitation Infraestructure
La infraestructura para el tratamiento de aguas residuales en la zona costera es insuficiente. Es necesario mejorar la capacidad operativa de estas instalaciones para elevar la resiliencia de las comunidades ante condiciones adversas.
Water Quality
La calidad del agua marina en la zona de estudio está comprometida por el vertimiento de aguas residuales y residuos sólidos. Los estudios de monitoreo de calidad del agua han identificado puntos críticos de contaminación que requieren atención inmediata.
Erosion and Sedimentation
Coastal erosion and Sedimentation are critical problems affecting the stability of infrastructure and the health of marine ecosystems. The combination of natural and anthropogenic factors, such as urban development and industrial activity, exacerbates these problems.
Instrumentos Institucionales
Mexico
Ha implementado políticas y estrategias para la gestión costera, incluyendo la Estrategia Ambiental para la Gestión Integrada de la Zona Costera y la creación de la Comisión Intersecretarial para el Manejo Sustentable de Mares y Costas. Sin embargo, existen limitaciones en la ejecución y financiamiento de estos programas.
United States
Posee un avanzado sistema de gestión costera con programas como el Coastal Zone Management Act y el National Estuary Program. Además, la Asociación de Gobiernos de San Diego (SANDAG) ha desarrollado programas de monitoreo y preservación de la costa que han proporcionado datos valiosos para la planificación de proyectos de resiliencia.
Conclusions of the Coast Diagnosis Report
The coastal diagnosis reveals that the Tijuana-San Diego coastal zone faces serious challenges related to erosion and water contamination.
Current infrastructures are insufficient to manage the impacts of climate change, and greater coordination and funding are required to implement effective resilience strategies. Binational collaboration and community participation are essential to address these problems comprehensively.
Tools and Data from the Coast Diagnosis
The detailed Coast Diagnosis maps reveal erosion risks, hydrology, and land-use patterns across the Tijuana–San Diego corridor, offering high-resolution files ideal for coastal resilience planning and environmental protection along the U.S.–Mexico border.
These maps, created in 2023 by Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental, are complemented by datasets in our interactive dashboard that let you explore and export underlying information for smarter cross-border management strategies.
Mapa 1
Study area
Mapa 2
Popullation
Mapa 3
Population density
Mapa 4
Topography
Mapa 5
Geology
Mapa 6
Slopes
Mapa 7
Contour lines
Mapa 8
Hydrology
Mapa 9
Basin system, subbasin and micro basins
Mapa 10
Uncovered land index
Mapa 11
Eroded land
Mapa 12
Land use
Mapa 13
Unidentified water discharge points
Mapa 14
Infraestructure points
Mapa 15
Social gap
Mapa 16
Areas in Mexico that are not registered in INEGI
Mapa 17
Erosion potential
