In 2003-2004, the International Community Foundation received grants from the California Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an erosion control and stormwater management feasibility project in Cañon Los Laureles, Tijuana, Baja California, México. This canyon drains directly in the Tijuana Estuary – a protected wetland and salt marsh area that is being negatively affected by sediment, debris, and trash from Cañon Los Laureles.

Phase One-Research
Phase One of this project was carried out by Instituto Municipal de Planeación (IMPlan) and Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología de Agua (IMTA) – a technical diagnostic of the demography, ecology, hydrology, geology, and institutional and legal framework that exist in the canyon. A final draft of the diagnostic was completed in November 2004; the full document will be available in spring 2005. An executive summary is being prepared for release before November 30, 2004.

Phase Two-Small Grants Program
Phase Two begins in January 2005 – a small grants program that will fund community-based pilot projects to address various aspects of erosion control and stormwater management in Cañon Los Laureles.

To read the executive summary in Spanish/ Para leer el resumen ejecutivo haga click aquí
To read the recommendations in Spanish/ Para leer las recomendaciones haga click aquí
(http://www.icfdn.org/aboutus/events/recomendaciones.doc)

KPBS News about Los Laureles Canyon (March 13, 2006)

IMPlan has completed its master plan for Los Laureles Canyon. A recent presentation can be downloaded here (June 2006)

Focus of cross-border agreement is cleanup of canyon in Tijuana

Rapid Growth, Border Fence Threaten Fragile Tijuana Estuary