April 21, 2010
State Water Resources Control Board Awards $400,000 to New River Improvement
The New River Improvement Project secured additional state support today with the approval of a $400,000 funding award by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Awarded from the Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account, the funds will be jointly managed by the City of Calexicoand the California Mexico Border Relations Council primarily for the development of a strategic plan to guide the New River clean-up pursuant to the requirements of AB 1079, a bill authored by Assemblyman Pérez and enacted last year. The funding also provides for the involvement of the regional Water Resources Control Board in water quality monitoring and testing.
“This funding award demonstrates a strong state-level commitment to invest in the clean-up of the New River. I believe it’s an investment that will pay big dividends for the future of the region,” said Pérez.
More specifically, the funds will enable the Border Relations Council to begin its work on the ground, including filling data gaps regarding current and projected New River water quality, further identifying parties with legal responsibility for New River cleanup and remediation, and determining financial options to assist with clean-up.
Long considered the most polluted river in North America, the New River flows from Mexicali, Mexico across the border into Calexico, and then empties into the Salton Sea 60 miles to the north. The New River carries urban runoff, untreated and partially treated municipal wastes, untreated and partially treated industrial wastes, large quantities of solid waste and agricultural runoff from the Mexicali Valley into the United States.
Awarded from the Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account, the funds will be jointly managed by the City of Calexicoand the California Mexico Border Relations Council primarily for the development of a strategic plan to guide the New River clean-up pursuant to the requirements of AB 1079, a bill authored by Assemblyman Pérez and enacted last year. The funding also provides for the involvement of the regional Water Resources Control Board in water quality monitoring and testing.
“This funding award demonstrates a strong state-level commitment to invest in the clean-up of the New River. I believe it’s an investment that will pay big dividends for the future of the region,” said Pérez.
More specifically, the funds will enable the Border Relations Council to begin its work on the ground, including filling data gaps regarding current and projected New River water quality, further identifying parties with legal responsibility for New River cleanup and remediation, and determining financial options to assist with clean-up.
Long considered the most polluted river in North America, the New River flows from Mexicali, Mexico across the border into Calexico, and then empties into the Salton Sea 60 miles to the north. The New River carries urban runoff, untreated and partially treated municipal wastes, untreated and partially treated industrial wastes, large quantities of solid waste and agricultural runoff from the Mexicali Valley into the United States.