SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — When planning camping trips, outdoor enthusiasts typically don’t worry about sewage pollution, but San Diego’s South Bay is an exception.

With the county preparing to reopen the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground, set to welcome campers next week, health concerns have emerged. Situated south of Spooner’s Mesa, approximately a mile from the Tijuana River and just east of the Pacific Ocean, the park’s location raises issues.

The campground provides breathtaking valley views and access to over 20 trails ideal for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. However, enjoying these amenities could pose risks due to the persistent sewage issues affecting south county areas.

In fact, the mayor of Imperial Beach, Paloma Aguirre, and county park rangers are currently urging officials to delay the reopening of the Tijuana River Valley Campground. They say the ongoing cross-border sewage contamination makes it unsafe for workers and visitors. The ranger’s union even filed a cease-and-desist, claiming the county hasn’t properly tested air or soil quality.

Mayor Paloma Aguirre held a press conference on the matter Thursday, calling the decision to reopen the campground “irresponsible.” She’s now requesting more funding to fix the sewage crisis instead.

“Everybody is getting sick with headaches, nausea, respiratory illnesses and now the county wants to reopen the campground like everything is fine,” Aguirre stated. “It’s not fine. We know the area isn’t safe. The water isn’t safe. The ground isn’t safe.”

Earlier this year, the results of the first-ever federal health survey on the impacts of the sewage crisis were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after officials surveyed the local community. The study showed drastic results, with a majority of the households saying they have health concerns, symptoms and quality-of-life issues.

The symptoms reported the most as a result of the sewage crisis, according to the results of the survey, were headaches, nausea or upset stomach, cough and an irritated throat. A whopping 69% of respondents reported one or more household members has health symptoms from the sewage issue, with 18% saying they sought medical care.

The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground shut down last year after flooding brought in sewage to the area, but the county still plans to reopen it next week.

“The county is barreling forward with this reopening, ignoring basic health concerns and pretending this crisis doesn’t exist,” the Imperial Beach mayor asserted.

The Tijuana River Valley is one of the few places in the county where the beach, sand dunes, salt marsh, river areas and land are all connected, making a great retreat for those looking to enjoy the outdoors locally. But at what cost?