PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A. Statement of the Problem/Need/Relevance

The Municipality of Tijuana has recently approved the document entitled "Directrices Generales de Desarrollo para la Zona del Arroyo Alamar," (Master Plan for the Development of Arroyo Alamar) (Honorable XVII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, 2002). This document is a comprehensive planning tool for the development of Arroyo Alamar, prepared after appropriate consultation with federal, state, and local agencies. The planned development and rehabilitation of Arroyo Alamar considers a host of features, including land-use zoning (agriculture, recreation, commerce and housing), groundwater replenishment, preservation of the riparian corridor, flood mitigation, enhancement of green space, and improvements in public health.

The Arroyo Alamar is located within the Tijuana River basin, northeast of the city of Tijuana. With a length of 10 km inside the urban area, the Arroyo Alamar constitutes an important area of groundwater recharge in the region. Ponce (2001) has estimated that the Arroyo Alamar contributes 22% of the water pumped annually from aquifers in the Tijuana River basin. The city of Tijuana pumps a monthly volume of 146,000 m3 from 30 wells located in the Tijuana river valley, including Arroyo Alamar.

Instituto Municipal de Planeación

Fig. 1  Location of Arroyo Alamar, Tijuana.

The Arroyo Alamar watershed has 1387 km2, 86% of which are located in California, and the remainder in Baja California. In California, the stream is known as Cottonwood Creek, which is regulated by the city of San Diego's Morena and Barrett dams. The flood hydrology of the combined Cottonwood Creek/Arroyo Alamar has been recently studied by Ponce (2001), who determined flood peaks for 2- to 1000-yr return periods.

The Arroyo Alamar is a riparian corridor which has been subject to encroachment by the city of Tijuana in the past 20 years. Largely unplanned uses, including agriculture, light industry, and make-shift urban dwellings dot the Alamar landscape. Another disturbing use is the illegal dumping of trash, which constitutes a public health hazard. The risk of flooding and associated losses is ever present, since the contributing watershed is rather large, and most of it remains uncontrolled.

A current SCERP (2002-2003) study is entitled "Hydroecological characterization of Arroyo Alamar." The study is developing hydroecological relations for the Arroyo Alamar. Specifically, the project will determine the channel properties that are compatible with hydroecological functions. This includes cross-sectional channel design, flood levels, depths and velocities, bank protection, and the preservation of the riparian corridor.

There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable architectural and landscape design of Arroyo Alamar. The holistic design of the river should strive to comply with the Master Plan. The sustainable architecture consists of the spatial design of the 10-km reach of Arroyo Alamar, seeking compatibility of perceived hydroecological functions and planned uses. The hydroecological functions include groundwater replenishment, preservation of the riparian corridor, and flood mitigation. The planned uses are recreation and enhancement of green areas, including landscaping and aesthetics. Recreation includes pedestrian walkways, exercise tracks, children playgrounds, soccer fields, tennis/basketball courts, rollerskating and skateboard parks, and golf courses.

Sustainable river architecture is a novel concept in the framework of stream rehabilitation. It comprises the hydrological, ecological, geomorphological, socioeconomic, and other aspects of the space and seeks to provide a sustainable habitat where plants, animals, and human beings can coexist in harmony. To accomplish this objective, we have assembled a binational, interdisciplinary, and multi-institutional team of experts, comprising hydrologists, biologists, architects, urban planners, and engineers from both sides of the border.

The proposed research project will maintain close contacts with Tijuana's Secretaria de Desarrollo Urbano (Secretary of Urban Development) and the Instituto Municipal de Planeacion (Municipal Planning Institute). The project is properly contained within the federal regulations for development of the watercourses of Mexico. A sustainable and socially meaningful project of this type may be subject to replication in other streams which straddle the border. Once executed, the project will convert the Arroyo Alamar into a planned river park that the citizens of the Alamar and Tijuana are certain to be proud of.

The sustainable architectural characterization will be coupled with a GIS system of the Arroyo Alamar. The GIS system will be a specialized geographical data base of the current status of the Alamar. Together with the proposed river architecture and the associated GIS system to manage it effectively, we propose to plan and execute a Citizens Involvement Program (CIP) to inform and persuade local stakeholders of the varied and multiple benefits of the project. Local support is deemed necessary for this project, where the proposed development will directly impact a host of parties that currently inhabit the Arroyo Alamar and environs. Thorough understanding of the complex socioeconomic issues are necessary to carry out this project to its successful completion.

B. Objectives/Outcomes

This study proposes to carry out a sustainable architectural design of Arroyo Alamar. The specific objectives are the following:

  1. To develop a spatial design of the Arroyo Alamar and environs to include architectural and landscaping features along the 10-km reach. The river architecture consists of the identification of the various features to be designed in the flood plain, consistent with established hydroecological functions. The design will preserve and maintain the hydroecological functions of the Arroyo Alamar, including groundwater replenishment, preservation of the riparian corridor, and flood mitigation. The design will minimize local impacts while local support will be optimized.

  2. To develop a GIS system suitable for use in the Arroyo Alamar, to assist in the management of the complex social and economic issues that are sure to develop as the project is implemented.

  3. To plan and execute a Citizens Involvement Program to inform and persuade local stakeholders of the multiple benefits of the project. The objective is to secure the support of local stakeholders, so that they may embrace the project as their own and lend it their support. The current situation in the Arroyo Alamar is mostly unplanned floodplain invasion by marginal settlers, and the use of portions of the river bed as dumpsites for construction and demolition waste and other trash and garbage. Therefore, a program to involve the population in the decision-making process is absolutely necessary if the project is to be carried to successful completion.

The outcome of the study will be a report, written in English and translated into Spanish, detailing the study findings, including its architectural, GIS and socioeconomic features. The final version of the report will be posted on the web. The study findings will assist the Municipality of Tijuana in executing the Arroyo Alamar project. The Principal Investigator Dr. Victor M. Ponce will be responsible for the technical and administrative aspects of the project. Architect Ana Elena Espinoza will be responsible for project coordination with the Municipality of Tijuana, development and implementation of the Citizens Involvement Program, and supervision of the GIS modeling.

The project will benefit the city of Tijuana by empowering it to effect the rehabilitation of Arroyo Alamar with a river architecture design that is fully responsive to the hydroecological requirements. The success of the project will be measured by the extent to which it improves the quality of life of the Arroyo Alamar and Tijuana residents. Perceived direct benefits are the maintenance of natural environmental services (groundwater replenishment and preservation of riparian corridor), effective flood mitigation, enhanced public health, and increased recreational opportunities.

 

C. Research Method/Approach

The research method/approach consists of the following steps:

  1. Data collection.
  2. Development of GIS system.
  3. Development of Citizen's Involvement Program.
  4. Sustainable architectural design of the Arroyo Alamar.

 

The topographic data will be supplied by the city of Tijuana to scale 1:2000. The project team will meet with Tijuana city officials to establish the location of diverse land uses within the project site. Mexican hydrological practice, as determined by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CNA), indicates that the design frequency to establish the federal zone is 10 yr, and the design frequency for the channelization in a predominantly urban area such as the Alamar is 1000 yr.

Existing land-use information will be assembled, including existing and planned developments, riparian, agriculture, industry, sand mining, recreation, tourism, commerce and housing. The research team will coordinate and cooperate with the Arizona State University (ASU) Alamar research team. The ASU team has developed a set of thematic maps identifying sensitivity areas for habitat, groundwater recharge, soil erosion, scenic value, and restoration potential. This and other related information to be developed as part of future studies will be used in the sustainable architectural design.

The developed GIS will define spatial management units. These units will contain socioeconomic data, such as income, years of schooling, quality of housing, characteristics of the infrastructure, and environment. The latter will specify biological species, soil types, terrain slopes, and hydrologic information (flood frequency levels). The GIS will make possible the following:

  • To define the land use within the framework of the Alamar river architecture project.
  • To provide the Municipality of Tijuana with a spatial data base of the Arroyo Alamar and environs.
  • To develop a social management program, designed to incorporate local stakeholders in the decision making process.
  • To locate areas to provide for groundwater replenishment, with artificial impoundments consistent with the overall river architectural framework.
The Citizens Involvement Program will seek to gather stakeholders input through questionnaires and information meetings. At a minimum, two meetings will be held, one at the start of the project, and another at midcourse. Input will be continuously considered during the sustainable architectural design. Feedback will be sought during the meetings. Input and feedback from local stakeholders are considered absolutely necessary in order to involve them effectively in the development of the river. It is important to "sell the project to the local people," so that they can eventually consider the project their own.

The sustainable architectural design will encompass the entire length of the Arroyo Alamar, from its upstream end at the bridge at Cañon del Padre to its downstream end 10 km downstream, to connect with the Second Phase of Rio Tijuana. This includes three distinct zones (Fig. 2):

  • Zone A: From the bridge at Cañon del Padre to the bridge at Blvd. Terán Terán.
  • Zone B: From the bridge at Boulevard Terán Terán to the bridge at Blvd. Clouthier.
  • Zone C: From the bridge at Boulevard Clouthier to the end of the Second Phase of Rio Tijuana.

Zone A is currently a mix of agricultural and industrial uses; Zones B and C are primarily make-shift urban. Current conditions are shown in Fig. 3. Garbage dumps and irregular settlements dot the Arroyo Alamar landscape (Note the sign on the third photo--Zone C: Danger / High risk of flooding / Invasions are ilegal).

 

Instituto Municipal de Planeación
Second Phase of Río Tijuana Bridge at Blvd. Clouthier Bridge at Blvd. Terán Terán Bridge at Cañon del Padre

Fig. 2  Aerial view of Arroyo Alamar, Tijuana.

 

Zone A

Zone B

Zone C

Fig. 3  Current conditions in the Arroyo Alamar (September 2002).

 

The research team will review the Atoyac river rehabilitation project, in Oaxaca, Mexico, where the concept of river architecture, including groundwater replenishment, preservation of riparian vegetation, flood mitigation, landscaping, and recreation was successfully implemented in 1996. Present conditions in the Atoyac river, showing a diversity of recreation features, are shown in Fig. 4.

The research team wil also review the design of the Rio Santa Catarina, in Monterrey, Mexico, another successful project of river architecture. Insights gained by the review of these two projects will help in the formulation of the sustainable architectural design of the Alamar river.

Children's playground

Basketball courts

Skateboarding park

Fig. 4  Atoyac river architecture, in Oaxaca, Mexico (November 2002).

 

D. Qualifications/Appropriateness of Research Team

  1. Dr. Victor Miguel Ponce, project coordinator, hydrologist and civil engineer, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University. Dr. Ponce has 30 years of experience in surface and groundwater hydrology, environmental hydrology, and hydroecology. He has extensive experience in the United States, Mexico, and Latin America, in both consulting and research roles. He is the Principal Investigator of the current SCERP-funded project on the hydroecological characterization of Arroyo Alamar. He is fluent in both English and Spanish, and can bring to bear his knowledge of technical, cultural and administrative issues on both sides of the border.

  2. Ana Elena Espinoza, Tijuana architect and urban planner, Master in regional and urban development; coordinator of the Center for Urban Studies, Centro de Estudios Superiores del Noroeste (CESUN), Tijuana. Ms. Espinoza has played a leading role on various projects on the Arroyo Alamar, and is thoroughly familiar with the physical, ecological, and socioeconomic aspects of the proposed development. Ms. Espinoza will supervise the formulation and implementation of the Citizens Involvement Program and the development of the GIS system. In addition, she will serve as a link between the project team and Tijuana city officials, to make sure that project accomplishments follow city plans and evolve with proper consultation with and participation of city officials.

  3. Alberto Castro Garcia, Tijuana civil engineering consultant. Mr. Castro is an expert in the hydraulics and hydrology of the Tijuana river basin. He has 32 years of experience in hydrological and hydroecological engineering in Tijuana and Baja California, including the design and construction of several channel-improvement projects in the basin. He has been a consultant for the Municipality of Tijuana for the past three years, and has extensive familiarity with the Alamar project site and its social implications. Mr. Castro will provide the local expertise in Tijuana and will assist in coordinating meetings with local stakeholders and officials.

  4. Dr. Jose Delgadillo Rodriguez, professor of biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (UABC), Unidad Ensenada. Dr. Delgadillo has 28 years of experience in vegetation science, including the maintenance and enhancement of riparian areas. Dr. Delgadillo will serve as a consultant in matters related to landscape design and riparian corridor enhancement.

  5. Ricardo Celis, Tijuana civil engineering consultant. Mr. Celis has 20 years of experience in architectural and engineering design in Tijuana and Baja California. He will provide the expertise in AutoCAD and related matters.

  6. Pietro Noe Magdalena, Tijuana architect and urban planner, and GIS consultant, currently completing the master's program in ecology and urban planning at UABC. Mr. Magdalena is an expert in GIS applications and photointerpretation. He will assist Ms. Espinoza with the GIS system and the architectural design.

 

E. Schedule

The project duration is 15 months, starting June 1, 2003 and ending August 31, 2004. A breakdown of tasks and estimated duration is given below.

  1. Compilation and analysis of topographic, land-use, and sociological data:  3 months (June-August 2003).

  2. Development and implementation of GIS: 3 months (September 2003-November 2003).

  3. Development and implementation of Citizens Involvement Program: 6 months (September 2003-February 2004).

  4. Sustainable architectural design of Arroyo Alamar, including identification of land uses and spatial design: 6 months (December 2003-May 2004).

  5. Preparation of draft and final reports, in English, and translation into Spanish, including webposting of reports:  3 months (June-August 2004).

The project team will meet on a bimonthly basis with Tijuana city officials, to provide a progress report and coordinate the execution of the field work.

 

REFERENCES

Honorable XVII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, B.C. 2002. Directrices generales de desarrollo para la zona del "Arroyo Alamar" de la ciudad de Tijuana, B.C."

Ponce, V. M. 2001. Flood hydrology of the Binational Cottonwood Creek - Arroyo Alamar, California and Baja California. http://alamar.sdsu.edu

Ponce, V. M. 2002. Rehabilitación del Río Atoyac, Ciudad de Oaxaca, México: Pictorial. http://ponce.sdsu.edu/rioatoyac.php