In 2002, SWIA hired the first Coastal Training Program Coordinator for the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. The CTP Coordinator interfaces with decision makers on both sides of the international border to foster a deeper understanding of coastal environmental issues that will lead to better decision making on regional, state, national, and bi-national levels.

Currently Mexican officials and Reserve staff are exploring a potential joint project to deal with sediment and wastewater flows from Los Laureles Canyon that adversely impact the Tijuana River Estuary during winter rain events. Also being discussed is the creation of a conservation park on the Mexican side of Smuggler’s Gulch, a coastal canyon that borders the Estuary.