The History of the Tijuana River

 

 

Today, we explore the turbulent history of the Tijuana River. Once a lifeline for Indigenous communities, now one of the most polluted waterways in the Western Hemisphere. From Kumeyaay villages to binational treaties, surfing legends, grassroots activism, and billion-dollar lawsuits, this journey uncovers the people, places, and decisions that shaped the river’s fate, and the communities fighting for its future. Whether burdened by sewage, neglect, or politics, the story of the Tijuana River is still unfolding if we know where to look. 

 In This Video: 🔹 The Kumeyaay and the river’s deep origins before borders existed 🔹 How treaties, revolutions, and Prohibition transformed the watershed 🔹 The first international sewage project and its lasting impact 🔹 Surfing culture, grassroots activism, and the rise of WILDCOAST 🔹 The lawsuits that brought the crisis into national spotlight 🔹 Why the river is now ranked one of America’s most endangered—and what’s at stake for the future