BajaNomad

Is the ocean water polluted in TJ......Old Surfer

Garcam - 6-4-2014 at 08:14 AM

Me again group....the newB.....
I'm an old surfer, used to live up in Carlsbad and surfed Carlsbad and Cardiff. Still have my long board and would like to know if there are any decent breaks close to Playa de Tijuana?
I need to get re-acclimated and summer is the right time to do it.

Just curious!

Thanks for being here.

Regards,
Gary

micah202 - 6-4-2014 at 08:19 AM

.
...I'd -imagine- TJ's soooo dry,,,there's not a drop of untreated sewage.


....different if there was rain:barf:

Garcam - 6-4-2014 at 08:25 AM

Thanks Micah,
I've just looked at a couple of surfing websites and they say the same thing!
I'll stay out of the Wat....sewage!

Ateo - 6-4-2014 at 08:33 AM

A short drive south to BM's.....Baja Malibu.

willardguy - 6-4-2014 at 08:40 AM

if you've ever got a bad taco you'll know what to expect!:o




[Edited on 6-4-2014 by willardguy]

sancho - 6-4-2014 at 11:20 AM

The area in front of the TJ River is/was called the TJ Slough, back in the day was a big wave spot at times. One can
imagine the **** flowing out of the TJ River during normal
yrs. A few days ago
was the annual beach report card issued for So. Cal.,
normally heavy polluted beaches recieved good reports
due to, as posted no rain runoff. The New River, which comes
out of Mexicali into the Salton Sea, has been called the most
polluted river in the US. This Calif drought is muy malo

SFandH - 6-4-2014 at 11:31 AM

http://www.sdbeachinfo.com/

Go to the blue button labelled "South" and select "Border Field State Park North of Border Fence". The main TJ beach is right there on the other side of the fence. The Tijuana River mouth is somewhat north of this position in the US.

Garcam - 6-4-2014 at 11:37 AM

Thanks for the info everyone

Terry28 - 6-4-2014 at 12:14 PM

Try las Gaviotas, about 10 miles south of Rosarito...no caca in the h2o!

woody with a view - 6-4-2014 at 12:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
http://www.sdbeachinfo.com/

Go to the blue button labelled "South" and select "Border Field State Park North of Border Fence". The main TJ beach is right there on the other side of the fence. The Tijuana River mouth is somewhat north of this position in the US.


keep in mind the currents take the TJ River outflow towards the north, usually flowing only after a rain event. there is another sewage outfall 5+ miles south that runs under the hiway into the ocean 24/7/365 near where Trump Towers were to be built, and it flows north too! the fishing for Mexican Brown Trout can be spectacular in this area....

Udo - 6-4-2014 at 01:15 PM

That IS a great surfing shot, Willard!

Martyman - 6-4-2014 at 02:55 PM

It hardly fecal matters.

Garcam - 6-4-2014 at 06:53 PM

Is Gaviota the same as K38? I surfed there a long time ago!

willardguy - 6-4-2014 at 07:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Garcam
Is Gaviota the same as K38? I surfed there a long time ago!
close,3 kilometers south.

SlyOnce - 6-5-2014 at 07:03 AM

I live in Playas. The water is clean. There is a surf break a little south of the main beach. There are surf shops and like a burger/beer place where people can sit to watch the action.

This is 100% a beach break, not a point. Longboards do hit it.

Sometime come on down to Playas, park your car in Parque Mexico, walk to the malecon/boardwalk, turn left, walk past the end of the wooden boardwalk, and look for all the surfers.

Playas is a very friendly, clean, and safe, place.

micah202 - 6-5-2014 at 08:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SlyOnce

Playas is a very friendly, clean, and safe, place.


...yeh it -seemed- like that to me .......until my car and toys were swiped within a couple of hours :(

........turns out to be a popular sport down there :no:


.

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by micah202]

SlyOnce - 6-5-2014 at 08:24 AM

Please reply where the car and toys were parked and when?

I've lived in Playas for a year and parked frequently at Parque Mexico, Plaza Monumental, and at the Malecon (never overnight).

My apartment is totally secure, there is a gate and the area is patrolled and I know all the guys. I lock the car but never worry.

I've only heard of one car being broken into parked on the street by Plaza Monumental. A laptop was taken that was left out in plain sight.

Parking at places like Walmart, Comercial Mexicano and Cineopolis is patrolled, as are most shops - usually by a guy with a whistle who you give a couple of pesos.

willardguy - 6-5-2014 at 09:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SlyOnce
I live in Playas. The water is clean. There is a surf break a little south of the main beach. There are surf shops and like a burger/beer place where people can sit to watch the action.

This is 100% a beach break, not a point. Longboards do hit it.

Sometime come on down to Playas, park your car in Parque Mexico, walk to the malecon/boardwalk, turn left, walk past the end of the wooden boardwalk, and look for all the surfers.

Playas is a very friendly, clean, and safe, place.
I have no complaints about the playa's other than having to pay two tolls to visit:mad: but I am curious as to where you are getting your information on the ocean water quality??? from your balcony?:?:

micah202 - 6-5-2014 at 09:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SlyOnce
Please reply where the car and toys were parked and when?

I've lived in Playas for a year and parked frequently at Parque Mexico, Plaza Monumental, and at the Malecon (never overnight).

My apartment is totally secure, there is a gate and the area is patrolled and I know all the guys. I lock the car but never worry.

I've only heard of one car being broken into parked on the street by Plaza Monumental. A laptop was taken that was left out in plain sight.

Parking at places like Walmart, Comercial Mexicano and Cineopolis is patrolled, as are most shops - usually by a guy with a whistle who you give a couple of pesos.


....sounds like things have changed a LOT in 2 1/2 years since the event-there was said to be a number of cars/day from some of the places you mentioned.

...I was in a residential area 2-3 blocks from the waterfront,,was a good guest,,stayed in guestroom,,car was gone within 2 hours...turns out my host had something against paying mordida to local 'security',,,he figured they were after him,,got me!

...enjoy your gated community

SlyOnce - 6-5-2014 at 10:11 AM

I have not tested the water BUT it is not laden with trash, it is clear, and people surf and swim all the time. I can see the TJ river outflow from the balcony and it does go out west and not onto the Playas beach. I do wade into the water on warm days.

The image that Playas is anything like the photo of surfing in trash is very unfair.

And yes, from Ensenada to Playas there would be 2 tolls on the couta, but zero tolls from the border.

SlyOnce - 6-5-2014 at 10:17 AM

Micah202 I am very sorry for your loss. I don't live in the residential areas. I can't attest to those areas. Most people have driveways behind walls. People do park on the street, and often very nice cars. The park, the malecon, the Plaza area, the shops and stores are safe during daytime and early evening, at least I've never had a problem.

Golden rules - park in a visible place, lock car, hide valuables, I drive 2 nice older cars you might call beaters. Befriend locals. My truck has a hidden kill switch. My old SUV has no added security.

Aqsurfer - 6-5-2014 at 11:09 AM

Hola Garcam,

Here is the link to the plume tracker - the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS).

http://www.sccoos.org/data/tracking/IB/

Great site for checking TJ river flow and plume in the ocean.

Proyecto Fronterizo is a great local group working on water quality issues at Playas de Tijuana. Here is the link:

http://pfea.org/alrescate/

They are part of the Waterkeeper Alliance and are working on setting up a daily water quality testing program. The results will be posted on the Waterkeeper's Swim Guide free app. Here the link for that, check it out

https://www.theswimguide.org/#32.23195597809631/-119.0944965...

Margarita Diaz, the Grupo Fronterizo director, is doing amazing things in TJ including water quality testing. She is currently securing funds to test on a daily basis. Keep an eye out for this or better yet support them.

Follow your instincts and senses regarding water quality. It sounds as though you have a lot of experience surfing. I guarded in IB/San Diego for 25 years and I could tell with a very high degree of certainty what the water quality was based simply on my observations.

As others have pointed out, there are two main outfall sources: 1. from the sewage treatment facility south of TJ, this constantly flows. I call it the Little River of Death (treated overflow hit with chlorine to kill any residual organics), and; 2. the TJ river - rains or major system failures/ruptures make the poop flow. Here, the SD County Department of Environmental Health test and IB lifeguards do a great job informing the community of water quality. Grupo Fonterizo is about to start their testing program and the TJ guards will get the word out.

Have fun getting back in the water.

Peace,
Aaron

SlyOnce - 6-6-2014 at 10:07 AM

I would add that Playas has well manned lifeguard stations all along the beach and the lifeguards patrol in trucks. You could always ask one of them.

elgatoloco - 6-6-2014 at 11:03 AM

Thank you for all the links and info!
Quote:
Originally posted by Aqsurfer
Hola Garcam,

Here is the link to the plume tracker - the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS).

http://www.sccoos.org/data/tracking/IB/

Great site for checking TJ river flow and plume in the ocean.

Proyecto Fronterizo is a great local group working on water quality issues at Playas de Tijuana. Here is the link:

http://pfea.org/alrescate/

They are part of the Waterkeeper Alliance and are working on setting up a daily water quality testing program. The results will be posted on the Waterkeeper's Swim Guide free app. Here the link for that, check it out

https://www.theswimguide.org/#32.23195597809631/-119.0944965...

Margarita Diaz, the Grupo Fronterizo director, is doing amazing things in TJ including water quality testing. She is currently securing funds to test on a daily basis. Keep an eye out for this or better yet support them.

Follow your instincts and senses regarding water quality. It sounds as though you have a lot of experience surfing. I guarded in IB/San Diego for 25 years and I could tell with a very high degree of certainty what the water quality was based simply on my observations.

As others have pointed out, there are two main outfall sources: 1. from the sewage treatment facility south of TJ, this constantly flows. I call it the Little River of Death (treated overflow hit with chlorine to kill any residual organics), and; 2. the TJ river - rains or major system failures/ruptures make the poop flow. Here, the SD County Department of Environmental Health test and IB lifeguards do a great job informing the community of water quality. Grupo Fonterizo is about to start their testing program and the TJ guards will get the word out.

Have fun getting back in the water.

Peace,
Aaron

SFandH - 6-7-2014 at 05:48 AM

If you are concerned about ocean pollution in south San Diego county or just in general and want to do something about it, you should consider donating to Serge Dedina's run for mayor of Imperial Beach. Serge is the co-founder of Wildcoast which is an environmental organization active in San Diego and Baja. He'll keep the TJ River problem at the top of his and other politicians' agendas.

http://www.sergeforibmayor.com/about

elgatoloco - 6-7-2014 at 08:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
If you are concerned about ocean pollution in south San Diego county or just in general and want to do something about it, you should consider donating to Serge Dedina's run for mayor of Imperial Beach. Serge is the co-founder of Wildcoast which is an environmental organization active in San Diego and Baja. He'll keep the TJ River problem at the top of his and other politicians' agendas.

http://www.sergeforibmayor.com/about


Done. Go Serge!

phoenix2121 - 6-12-2014 at 04:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SlyOnce
There are surf shops and like a burger/beer place where people can sit to watch the action.


Can you clue me in to where the surf shops are? We were looking for one in Playas just the other day and couldn't find one, and the locals said that the only surf shops were in Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo.

phoenix2121 - 6-12-2014 at 04:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Garcam
Me again group....the newB.....
I'm an old surfer, used to live up in Carlsbad and surfed Carlsbad and Cardiff. Still have my long board and would like to know if there are any decent breaks close to Playa de Tijuana?
I need to get re-acclimated and summer is the right time to do it.


Gary, the rips in Playas de TJ are pretty serious. I might choose a safer spot if I were you.

We live close by, and we go to the beaches in Rosarito to avoid the dangerous currents that TJ is known for. The lifeguards in Playas are constantly going out to help swimmers caught in rips, or just walking out to let people know that they shouldn't go any deeper because of the dangerous rips.

Be careful.

Garcam - 6-15-2014 at 05:01 PM

Slyonce,
I'v tried to send a U2U, but am not sure if you have received it.
I've arrived in Playas and would like to meet some other Expats here.
Anyone who would like to share thoughts on what where and hows in Playas, I'd be pleased to meet somewhere!

Thanks so much.

Regards,
Garcam

SlyOnce - 6-19-2014 at 07:16 AM

Hi Garcam, I sent a U2U, my novia and I would be pleased to meet you.