The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act addresses severe water pollution in two cross-border rivers—the Tijuana River and the New River—by establishing two coordinated federal restoration programs under EPA administration to tackle problems including untreated sewage flows, contaminated stormwater, and ecosystem damage that have caused over 1,000 consecutive beach closures and public health threats. The legislation requires the EPA to appoint program directors within 180 days and develop comprehensive water quality action plans within one year that prioritize wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and contamination removal while coordinating across federal, state, tribal, local, and Mexican agencies. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 through 2036 to provide grants and technical assistance for restoration projects in both watersheds and grants the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission authority to construct and operate approved infrastructure projects on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border in cooperation with Mexican entities. This legislation aims to protect public health, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and enhance recreation in these cross-border regions through coordinated international collaboration.
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