SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Several local, state and federal agencies cut the ribbon on a 450-foot-long trash boom in the Tijuana River Valley on Tuesday morning. The boom is made up of 150 individual sections that are tied together and anchored by 20 tons of concrete on both sides. It was installed on the riverbed just inside U.S. territory. As the water levels rise, so will the boom. It is designed to stop tons of trash, plastics, tires and other debris that normally flow from Tijuana north across the border along the Tijuana River Valley and out to the Pacific Ocean. The project has been in the planning stages for 20 years. 20 years in the making, giant trash boom installed to keep Tijuana trash out of U.S. "We’ve been studying this for years now and at last we can see it, use it and see how effective it is in controlling trash,” said David Gibson, executive officer with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. David Gibson is the Executive Officer for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. (Salvador Rivera/Border Report) Gibson said the boom will be a benefit to the region for many reasons. "The sewage has been an issue for obvious reasons, but trash is important because it breaks down into microplastics, which have a huge impact on our ocean environment and the estuary and park spaces downstream," he said. "The trash actually blocks passage of horses across the trails, mountain bikers in the valley, and it’s also a breeding habitat for mosquitos that breed in containers, trash, and getting it out of the ecosystem is our number one goal here.” Gibson also said catching the trash at the border is imperative. California environmental group installs trash boom in Tijuana "If that trash gets downstream into the trees and it becomes unattainable, we can’t get to it and remove it, so stopping it here in the open channel where it can be gathered mechanically makes it a lot safer for everybody including private property owners, users of the county regional and state parks, and the fish and wildlife. Gibson believes the boom will become an integral clog in a system that will protect the environment and improve the quality of life for residents on both sides of the border. "Now we have a combination of an improved sewer system in Tijuana an expanded wastewater treatment plant in San Ysidro — a river diversion and capture system is critical — but now we also control the trash.” While not present at the event, California Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in on the importance of having the trash boom in place. “California is working with our local and federal partners to address the ongoing Tijuana River crisis," Newsom said in a statement. "This project to stop trash from clogging the river is part of an all-of-the-above approach we’re taking to help protect Tijuana River Valley communities.” Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border The boom cost $4.7 million and will be in place through early 2027 when it will be evaluated and possibly repositioned and expanded.