Learn about current park closures and updates.
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park offers more than 1,800 acres of diverse habitats to enhance visitors' experiences – from dense riparian forests along the Tijuana River to coastal maritime sage scrub on top of Spooner's Mesa. For more information on the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, visit our park webpage.
While there are multiple agencies working to improve the Tijuana River Valley, below you will find project updates on the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation’s efforts.
Disney Property
Spooner's Mesa Culvert
Smuggler's Gulch Improvements
Tijuana River Valley Habitat
Restoration Plan
Tijuana
River Valley Needs and Opportunities Assessment Report
Tijuana River
Valley Regional Park Trails and Habitat Enhancement
Project
Tijuana River Valley
Regional Park Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study
Tijuana River Valley Rehabilitation
Project
TRVRP Active Recreation and Community
Park
TRVRP California Coastal Trail
Feasibility Study
A vacant parcel next to the Tijuana River will be restored through native plantings. The project includes cleanup of the property as well as restoring onsite sensitive habitat. The project is currently under design and environmental review, with construction and restoration anticipated to begin fall 2024.
For more information, please contact Krupali Shah, Park Project Manager, at Krupali.Shah@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619)-629-4964.
The Spooner’s Mesa Culvert Project is located in the County of San Diego near the United States-Mexico border. The project is immediately south of Monument Road near the Tijuana River Valley Campground. The project will reconstruct a failed drainage culvert under the road, improve stormwater conveyance and restore eroded slopes with native vegetation for long term stormwater protection. The county of San Diego, Department of parks and Recreation (DPR) is completing a feasibility study and are anticipating completing the construction by summer 2025.
For more information, please contact Krupali Shah, Park Project Manager, at Krupali.Shah@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619)-629-4964.
In March 2020, the County completed a Needs and Opportunities Assessment for the Tijuana River Valley. Two of the projects identified in the study – Projects 10 & 11 – have now been combined and are known as the Smuggler’s Gulch Improvement project. These projects address stormwater, sediment and trash issues in Smuggler’s Gulch through the addition of a sedimentation basin, replacement of an undersized road culvert, and the addition of trash capture devices in the area. The project was funded in full by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The project is currently under design and environmental review, with construction anticipated to begin in Fall 2025.
For more information, please contact Annette Saul, Park Project Manager, at annette.saul@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619) 916-6024.
Tijuana River Valley Habitat Restoration Plan
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is in the final stages of regulatory permitting for restoration of County-owned parcels within the Tijuana River Valley. This project will remove invasive non-native plant species from the TRVRP and restore those areas with a mix of native upland, wetland, and riparian habitats. The goal of this project is to identify, prioritize through phasing, and implement large-scale restoration throughout the TRVRP and provide contiguous native habitat. Once implemented, the restoration is expected to have secondary benefits resulting from improved ecological and hydrological functions, such as reduced concentrations of pollutants and sediments, improved water quality, and enhanced flood control. The final Habitat Restoration Plan (HRP) and associated environmental document can be found below:
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner
Kiran Seibel at Kiran.Seibel@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Tijuana River Valley Needs and
Opportunities Assessment Report
The Tijuana River Valley Needs and Opportunities Assessment (NOA) Report was completed in 2020 and provides a comprehensive review and assessment of potential management strategies to address transboundary flows of sewage, trash, and sediment into the Tijuana River Valley located within the United States. The NOA Report is intended to provide information and guide decisions on the future implementation of projects to reduce impacts on the Tijuana River Valley from the transboundary flows. The NOA Report includes an analysis of existing transboundary flow water quality conditions and management practices, a needs assessment and data gaps analysis, potential proposed projects, evaluation of proposed project alternatives benefits and costs, and project recommendations.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Kiran Seibel at Kiran.Seibel@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Trails and Habitat Enhancement Project
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Trails and Habitat Enhancement Project was certified by the Board of Supervisors on December 13, 2006. The certification of the EIR allows the department to implement portions of the project now while pursuing funding to implement larger aspects of the project. The main component of the project is the formal trail network. This trail network will consist of 22.5 miles of both multi-use and equestrian/pedestrian trails with amenities such as bird observation blinds, interpretive signage, and trailheads. Also included in the overall project is the restoration of approximately 60 acres of wetland, riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats west of the Dairy Mart Ponds, situated south of the I-5/Dairy Mart Road interchange.
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study
The Department of Parks and Recreation, Resource Management Division recently completed the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study, which analyzed the feasibility of additional recreational opportunities within the park including camping locations and regional trail connections. An open house showcasing the results of the study was held Wednesday December 14th from 6-8pm at the TRVRP Ranger Station, and was attended by nearly 100 individuals. The study was funded in part by the State Coastal Conservancy and DPR General Fund. Elements from the study will be implemented as funding becomes available. DPR continues to seek grant funds, and is excited to implement the recreational opportunities presented in the study in the future.
To view the pdf version of the final TRVRP Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study, please view: TRVRP Feasibility Study.
Tijuana River Valley Rehabilitation Project
The Tijuana River Valley Rehabilitation Project involves removal of potentially hazardous structures and debris from a vacant parcel (formerly known as the Brown Property) and restoration of the site to native habitat. Removal of the structures and debris was complete in early 2024. DPR is will continue to remove non-native trees and plants from the area and restore the area with native plants. The restoration efforts are currently ongoing, with an expected completion of December 2025.
For more information, please contact Group Program Manager Kiran Seibel, at Kiran.Seibel@sdcounty.ca.gov or Region Manager, Charles Gailband at Charles.Gailband@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Community Park in Tijuana River Valley
County Parks is designing a 64-acre community park in the Tijuana River Valley. The design will create unique opportunity to develop recreation amenities which would benefit the local community and region at large. The park may include multi-use fields, sports courts, areas for horseback riding, a playground, restrooms, and parking. Design efforts will also include the creation of a master plan for the Regional Park.
The Regional Park is mostly owned by San Diego County. It has beautiful natural areas, including beaches, dunes, salt marshes, rivers, and upland ecosystems. These habitats are home to many plants and animals, including 340 species of migratory birds. The park also has important cultural and historical sites. The 1,800-acre regional park has 22.5 miles of trails, a Bird & Butterfly Garden, a campground, sports fields, a community garden, and more. Nearby, the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and local beaches offer more ways to enjoy the outdoors and relax.
County Parks has contracted World Design Capital to provide strategic and creative expertise in shaping a vision and direction for the Community Park project. This includes developing branding and marketing strategies, fostering meaningful public engagement, and delivering innovative conceptual design and master planning solutions that align with long-term goals.
For more information, please contact Annette Saul, Park Project Manager, at annette.saul@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619) 916-6024.
TRVRP California Coastal Trail Feasibility Study
The California Coastal Trail is expected to ultimately provide an integrated trail network along the 1,230-mile California Coast. Currently, there is a gap in a section of this trail in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. The County of San Diego, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is completing a feasibility study to identify the most appropriate location to bridge this gap and cross the Tijuana River. The State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) provided funding for this feasibility study which is expected to be complete in early 2024.
DPR held a virtual public meeting on February 15, 2024. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Kiran Seibel at Kiran.Seibel@sdcounty.ca.gov.
