Three objectives of the project are:

1) Remove massive accumulation of debris in the Otay River Valley from Otay Valley Road / Heritage Road to , West end Nester Creek (west end of Recreational Area #1), adjacent to the Wild Life Refuge.

2) Encourage transients living in unsanitary encampments to leave the area in order to protect sensitive habitat and create safer surroundings; and

3) Improve the security of the area by preparing for installation of fencing along sidewalks and streets and trimming foliage

Lt. Greg Fay, San Diego Police Department, Southern Division, CAC member, during an OVRP Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting in September 1999, suggested that a cleanup of the Otay River Valley be undertaken, and that Sgt. Bill Frew, San Diego Police Department, Southern Division, and John Willett, OVRP CAC Chairperson, jointly organize initial efforts between Hollister Street and Beyer Way. The first cleanup occurred on October 15 & 16, 1999 and involved participation by 36 different groups, encompassing 90 volunteers, 50 city and county personnel, expending some 2,166 hours of labor in removing 60 tons of trash, and cleaning up 8 homeless encampments. San Diego's Alpha Project offered assistance to 18 transients, 8 of whom accepted their help.

In January 2000, Project Coordinator functions were assumed by John Willett for developing and coordinating a second phase operations for a more intensive cleanup of the Otay River Valley area, from Interstate 5 east to Interstate 805 through December 2001. In early 2002, a third cleanup phase will be drawn-up extending cleanup east of I-805 to Otay Valley Road/Heritage Road and certain portions south of the river.

Work periods are scheduled for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the first week of every month from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., scheduled through June 2002. A fourth phase will extend the cleanup from Otay Valley Road/Heritage Road to the lower Otay Lakes Reservoir.

In January 2000, Dave Fredrickson (CAC Member), marked an enlarged sectionalized map developed by the Project Coordinator, documenting location of trails, dirt roads, existing ponds, homeless huts, and large concentrations of trash. This information, along with locations of Draft OVRP Concept Plan¹s proposed recreation areas and open space, became the framework for developing work schedules and location.

Trash removal has consisted of transient building materials, clothing, cooking equipment, car bodies, tires, shopping carts, household goods (mattresses, stoves, washers, couches, radios and TV sets), yard waste, general household and industrial waste (used lumber, metal and paving concrete). Old dope dens are cleaned out, trees and high weeds are trimmed to provide better visibility for Border Patrol, Cities of Chula Vista and San Diego Street Team personnel.

The majority of transient encampments are located on the north side of the river, generally within a block of food stores which dispose of food with expired sale dates, or restaurants which dispose of leftovers or food not yet cooked into unlocked bins for delivery to the landfill. When transients are located, both Alpha Project and San Diego County Mental Health personnel are requested to assist in relocating homeless personnel. About 80 percent of the transient camps cleaned out, drug needles were found.

Crews consist primarily of two-three Donovan Prison work crews (12-24 personnel), OVRP CAC members (3-5 volunteers) , Chula Vista Public Works Department, Hansen Aggregate, San Diego Environmental Services Department, Pacific Waste Services and O'Niell Construction. Alpha Project workers provide assistance to homeless transients. The URBAN Corps of San Diego workers participated in May 2000.