Officials tackle New River pollution, cleanup efforts in Calexico
CALEXICO, Calif. (KESQ) — Federal, state and local officials gathered in Calexico Tuesday to address longstanding concerns over pollution in the New River and its potential impact on communities across the Imperial and Coachella valleys.
Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz joined state, federal, and other local officials for a tour of the New River.
The visit was part of a broader effort to improve water quality, strengthen cooperation between agencies in the U.S. and Mexico, and address pollution at its source.
Officials later held a public roundtable at the City of Calexico's Fernando “Nene” Torres Council Chambers. Discussions focused on ongoing improvements to the river, infrastructure needs, binational coordination and a water sampling study involving multiple agencies.
Ruiz said officials are working to finalize the study before reaching a negotiated agreement that could help move cleanup efforts forward more quickly.
“We are currently finalizing a water study that was done by all the different agencies,” Ruiz said. “Once we get the negotiated agreement just like they did for the TJ River then things can move a lot quicker than they would otherwise happen.”
EPA officials said addressing the New River will require both infrastructure improvements and efforts to hold Mexico accountable for pollution crossing the border.
The pollution has also raised concerns for people who live and work around the river and for nearby communities.
“I talk to some of our first responders. When there’s a car accident in the river or someone in the river, when they put their foot in, they come out with rashes, they come back injured. I am hearing about cancer clusters, asthma," said Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez.
The New River flows from Mexico through Calexico and eventually drains into the Salton Sea, connecting the Imperial Valley's water quality concerns to the larger environmental challenges facing the Coachella Valley.
“When the Salton Sea starts to recede and the playa is exposed it contains those chemicals,” Ruiz said. “When you have the dust in the air, people breathe those chemicals.”
Funding remains another challenge. Officials say the resources currently available to operate cleanup equipment are not enough to cover the cost of running it.
The long-term goal is to address the source of the pollution before it reaches the New River and eventually the Salton Sea.
Officials did not provide an exact timeline for when a final agreement or additional cleanup work could begin.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
