Yuma will serve as the site of a hybrid public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13 (1:00–3:30 p.m. MST) focused on the Border 2025 Program and a preview of planning for Border 2035. The meeting brings regional task force leads to the table to discuss both ongoing and newly proposed cross‑border environmental projects that affect communities along the U.S.–Mexico border, including Yuma County residents who live and work in a binational region.

Organizers say the meeting is open to the public in person and by Zoom, with registration available via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided to ensure accessibility for Spanish‑speaking participants and others who require language support, reflecting the bilingual realities of the border region.

The Border 2025 Program has been a vehicle for coordinated action on environmental and public health challenges that transcend the international boundary. During the two‑and‑a‑half‑hour session, regional task force leads will report on project outcomes to date and outline new initiatives that are under consideration as officials begin framing objectives for Border 2035. Topics commonly discussed under these programs include air and water quality monitoring, waste management, remediation of contaminated sites, and collaborative emergency response planning — all areas with direct relevance to Yuma’s economy and public welfare.

For Yuma County, the meeting matters because environmental conditions across the border can have immediate local impacts. Agriculture, a cornerstone of Yuma’s economy, depends on predictable water quality and availability, and migrant and seasonal workforce flows tie local public health and social services to conditions on both sides of the border. Cross‑border pollution, waste disposal practices, and shared water resources are not confined by jurisdictional lines, making cooperative planning essential to protecting residents’ health and sustaining local industries.

The presence of regional task force leads offers residents, municipal officials and local organizations a chance to hear about specific projects and timelines, ask questions, and identify opportunities for partnership. The hybrid format and provision of interpretation also aim to broaden participation, enabling community members who cannot attend in person to engage virtually.

Those interested in attending or monitoring the meeting should register through the EPA’s site for either the in‑person or Zoom option. As Border 2025 work transitions toward a longer‑range vision for Border 2035, Yuma officials and residents will be watching to see how proposed projects and policies translate into tangible benefits for the county and its binational neighbors.