Project Summary: The Tijuana River Watershed is approximately 2700 sq. miles. Ninety percent of the watershed is located within Mexico. It has four main tributaries: Tecate Creek, Cottonwood Creek, River Las Palmas and River Alamar. The Tijuana River drains to its mouth at the Tijuana Estuary in San Diego, one of the most important wetland/salt marsh ecosystems left in the State of California.  One of the biggest impacts to the Tijuana Estuary, is erosion.

Special attention is being paid to a particular sub-watershed located in Los Laureles Canyon, in Tijuana. This sub-watershed of the Tijuana River Watershed is approximately 4.6 square miles. In the past 25 years, Los Laureles has been increasingly developed with lack of proper infrastructure.

In 1980, 10 people resided in the canyon. Today, there are approximately 80,000 residents, most of which are living on top of eroding slopes. Studies have estimated that 80% of the watershed erodes 25 tons of sediment a year. The remaining 20% erodes over 100 tons of sediment a year.

Urban Semillas is currently working with Dr. Oscar Romo and the “Colors of Green” committee in bringing attention from LA Region organizations and individuals to Tijuana River Watershed issues.  With the creation of the Los Laureles Collaborative, Urban Semillas has been able to coordinate trips to Los Laureles Canyon for students, academia, professionals and interested organizations and individuals.

Visitors to Los Laureles get an opportunity to see first hand communities in Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico that are being impacted by maquiladoras.  Maquiladoras are the result of cheap-labor driven industry being generated by US corporations and world wide-consumerism.  People who visit Los Laureles get an opportunity to interact and meet with local  community members that are making a difference in their community.  There also hands-on volunteering opportunities for those who are interested in making a difference beyond the Los Angeles Region.

Dr. Oscar Romo is the Coastal Training Program Coordinator at the Tijuana River National Estuary Research Reserve.  His work has led to international partnerships to bring attention to bi-national issues.  These partnerships include Elected officials, Non-Profit & Community Based Organizations. 

His goals include protecting and preserving the Tijuana Estuary in the US side, while creating healthier and safer living conditions on the Mexican side through resident capacity building.

Urban Semillas has traveled to Venezuela to gain first hand knowledge of the political climate in theat Country.  The trips were part of the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) International programs.  WCVI has conducted educational activities regarding U.S.-Venezuela relations, as well as the social change processes unfolding in Venezuela (and other Latin America countries). In late November 2008 as part of an international observer contingent, WCVI was able to continue to learn about the electoral process in regional and municipal elections in this South American country.