[ ♪♪ ] >> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, THE POTENTIAL LIFE-SAVING SKILLS OF FOXES.

WE VISIT A SANCTUARY IN RURAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY WHERE ONE BREED IS BEING TRAINED TO SOMEDAY HELP WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS.

AMERICA'S VIRTUAL SOUTHERN BORDER, KPBS INVESTIGATES THE RISE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AND THE CONCERNS RAISED BY PRIVACY EXPERTS.

AND CHICANO PARK AT 50.

HEAR WHY THOSE WHO REMEMBER ITS HISTORY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ITS FUTURE.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, MORE EYES WILL BE ON THE SAN DIEGO PADRES THAN USUAL.

THE TEAM IS PLAYING IN MEXICO CITY.

IT'S THEIR BIGGEST STAGE YET.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

AND JACOB AERE RECENTLY LOOKED INTO THE REGIONAL BASEBALL CULTURE AND HOW THE PADRES ARE WINNING OVER MORE OF MEXICO'S FANS.

>> Reporter: THEY MIGHT BE CALLED THE SAN DIEGO PADRES, BUT FANS OF THIS TEAM STRETCH WELL BEYOND THE CITY AND COUNTY.

AND ACROSS THE BORDER INTO TIJUANA.

OMAR PARA LIVES THERE AND HAS BEEN A PADRES FAN FOR DECADES.

HE SAYS BASEBALL MUCH LIKE SOCCER IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF TIJUANA AND TEAMS LIKE THE BASEBALL AND SOCCER TEAM HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED.

>> THERE IS TWO SPORTS ONE IS SOCCER AND THE OTHER ONE IS BASEBALL.

>> Reporter: THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE NEW CHAPTER FOR BASEBALL IN MEXICO.

WITH THE PADRES PLAYING A TWO-GAME SERIES AGAINST THE SAN FRANSISCO GIANTS, IN WHAT WILL - BE THE FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE- BASEBALL GAME PLAYED IN MEXICO CITY.

THIS COMES AS THE PADRES HAVE MADE A BIG PUSH TO EMBRACE THE CROSS-BORER CULTURE.

YOU SEE IT IN THE TEAM'S TEAL, AND YELLOW JERSEYS AND IN TIJUANA -- >> I WOULD SAY FIVE, TEN YEARS WOULD SAY 90% WOULD BE BOSTON HATS, DETROIT TIGERS, SO NOW IT'S KIND OF TURNED AROUND AND I WOULD SAY 60, 70% IS SAN DIEGO HATS.

S, YEAH, I DO SEE IT CHANGE.

>> Reporter: IT HELPS HAT THE TEAM'S WINNING MORE GAMES AND LOADED WITH SUPERSTARS.

BUT GETTING TO WATCH THE PADRES IN-PERSON IS OFTEN AN EXPENSIVE AND LENGTHY COMMITMENT FOR FANS LIVING IN MEXICO.

>> XOLOS GAME MIGHT COST YOU 25 BUCS INCLUDING A BEER AND SO ON, AND A PADRES GAME, DEPENDING ON THE GAME AND THE SEATS, IT CAN TAKE YOU BACK 150 BUCKS PER PERSN.

>> Repter: ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER, SAN DIEGO SOUTH BAY IS ARGUABLY WHERE BASEBALL PASSION AND THE HEART OF THE FIRES FANDOM BEATS THE LOUDEST.

THERE IS A TRIO OF LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES TEAMS AND PADRES MASCOTS.

THIS IS WHERE THIS FAN SPOKE ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S MADE IT CLOSER IN BASEBALL, IT'S THE LOVE WE BOTH HAVE FOR THIS TEAM THAT HONESTLY MAKS IT WORTH IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER THE PRICE.

WE WILL PAY WHATEVER WE CAN TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AS WELL.

> Reporter: THE RANCHO SAN DIEGO RESIDENT AND HER HUSBAND JORGE ARE TRAVELING TO MEXICO CITY FOR THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED TO SIT IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

BEING IN THE CULTURE ENVIRONENT, TRYING OUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND JUST EXPERIENCING BASEBALL IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY, A DIFFERENT CULTURE.

>> Reporter: THE TEAM'S REVENUE HAS INCREASED ALONG WITH ITS GROWING FAN BASES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE MAJORITY OWNER PETER SEIDLE HAS BEEN ON A SPENDING SPREE SIGNING STARS LIKE MANNY MACHADO AND FERNANDO TATIS TO BIG LONG-TERM CONTRACTS.

SAID THIS PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS ALLAN GIN.

>> THAT INCLUDES THE FANS IN MEXICO, WE MIGHT GET SOME PEOPLE GAMES, THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO COME TO THE GAME WILL BE WTCHING ON TELEVISION AND THEY MIGHT BUY SOME MERCHANDISE.

>> Rporter: OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES, THE PADRES HAVE PLAYED IN MEXICO A HANDFUL OF OTHER TIMES AND THE CITY OF MONTEREY BUT WITH THIS MEXICO CITY SERIES, THEY'RE STEPPING TON TO- A BIGGER STAGE.% >> THEY'RE GOING TO THE CAPITAL.

THEY' GOING TO THE BIGGER CITY úSO THAT'S GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF MEDA ATTENTION IN MEXICO.

AND SO THAT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP PROMOTE THE PADRES BRAND IN MEXICO, AND THE PADRES HAVE BEEN MAKING EFFORTS TO DO THAT ALL ALONG AND THIS WILL GIVE A BOOST TO THOSE EFFORTS.

>> Reporter: BALTHAZAR SAYS THE SERIES MAY BE FAR FROM HER CURRENT HOME BUT WORTH THE JOURNEY.

ú >> THE PADRES IS THE ONE TEAM M M M M M M M M M M M M >> Repoter: PLUS, THE GAMES ARE STILL CLOSE TO WHAT MATTERS MOST.

>> MY SIDE OF THE FAMILY, MY GRADPARENTS ARE FROM QUAD LA HAIR A AND SAME FOR HIS FAMILY, -- GUADALAJARA.

IT MEANS A LOT.

>> Reporter: IN TIJUANA, PARRA HOPES TO SEE THE PADRES INFLUENCE CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> MY DAD AND OTHER RELATIVES IN OTHER PARTS OF MEXICO ARE SAYING I WANT TO GO TO A PADRES GAME, AND I SEND THEM GEAR AND ALL THAT STUFF SO I LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE PADRES ARE REPRESENTING.

>> Reporter: OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, KPBS WILL SHARE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE MEXICO CITY SERIES INCLUDING COVERAGE OF THE BASEBALL BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS, STORIES OF PADRES FANS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER% WHO MADE THE TRIP FOR THE HISTORIC EVENT.

>> FERNANDO TATIS JR. -- >> Reporter: JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>> Maya: AND JACOB AERE AND VIEO JOURNALIST MATT BUELLER WILL BE WITH THE PADRES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND THE BEST WAY TO FOLOW THEIR COVERAGE IS ONLINE.

KEEP AN EYE FOR UPDATES AT KPBS.ORG, ALSO FOLLOW KPBS ON INSTAGRAM, ON FACEBOOK AND TIKTOK AS WE POST MORE PADRES CONTENT FROM MEXICO CITY.

>>> IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE NEIGHBORS FIRST TOOK PAINT BRUSHES TO THE HIGHWAY PILLARS IN CHICANO PARK CREATING THE NOW FAMOUS MURALS.

KATIE HYSON LOOKS INTO THE PARK LEGACY AND ITS FUTURE.

>> Reporter: CHICANO PARK BEGAN WITH AN ALMOST BROKEN PROMISE.

[♪♪ ] LOGAN HEIGHTS WAS A MOSTLY CHICANO COMMUNITY.

SEGREGATEDFROM THE REST OF SAN IEGO BY RED LINING.

WHEN THE STATE BUILT THE 5 IN THE 1960s, IT DIVIDED THE COMMUNITY IN HALF.

I SPOKE WITH A PARKS CO-FOUNDER AND ITS NEWLY-OPENED MUSEUM.

SHE STILL GETS EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT 60 YEARS LATER.

>> WE LOST THREE-FOURTH OF OUR COMMUNITY BASICALLY.

>> Reporter: IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS DISPLACEENT, THE CITY AGREED TO TURN THE LAND BENEATH THE CORONADO BRIDGE INTO A PARK.

WHE BULLDOZERS ARRIVED ON APRIL 22nd OF 1970, THEY WERE THERE NOT TO BUILD A PARK BUT A HIGHWAY PATROL STATION.

A WITNESS WALKED TO CITY COLLEGE AND FOUND SHE IN HER CLASS AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

THEY ALL LEFT CLASS MARCHING NEARLY TWO MILES BACK AND BLOCKED THE BULLDOZERS WITH THEIR BODIES.

>> WE WERE GOING TO CREATE OUR OWN PARK BECAUSE WE HAD GOTTEN TIRED OF BEING DISRESECTED.

AND BASICALLY TREATED LIKE WE HAD NO PLACE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

WITHIN A MATTER OF A COUPLE HOURS, THERE WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE HERE.

YEAH, IT SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

>> Reporter: THEY OCCUPIED THE PARK FOR 12 DAYS BEFORE STEADY NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.

THE COMMUNITY WON.

AND THREE YEARS LATER, THEY BEGAN PAINTING THE MURALS FOR WHICH THE PARK IS NOW FAMOUS.

NAVY CREPT INTO THE IGHBORHOOD.

TAKING OVER THE BEACH WHERE MANY SPENT THEIR WEEKENDS OCCUPYING MORE THAN HALF OF BARRIO LOGAN AND CREATING SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S WORST AIR POLLUTION.

WHAT REMAINS FACES A NEW THREAT.

>> WHAT'S LEFT OF THIS THAT HAS BEEN INFRINGED UPON IS NOW BEING VIEWED AS THE HIP PLACE TO LIVE.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A PROPERTY THAT JUST SOLD FOR $1.2 MILLION HERE IN THE HOOD, YOU KNOW.

AND SO WE'RE LOSING THE LAST OF OUR RESIDENTS.

>> Reporter: THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS INHERITING THIS ON-GOING BATTLE OF GENTRYFICATION.

I'VE BEEN HERE GROWING UP LONG ENOUGH TO SEE MAYBE LIKE TEN DIFFERENT EITHER STORES OR GALLERIES SHIFT OUT OF WHAT THEY USED TO BE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING BOUGHT UP.

GENTRIFICATION.

AND NOT ONLY ON LOGAN AVENUE BUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: WHILE SOME CHICANOS ARE DISPLACED, THE PARK OFFERS CULTURAL PRIDE TO THOSE WHO REMAIN.

THIS PERSON, NOW 19, GREW UP SWINGING IN THE PARK WHILE HER MOHER PAINTED THE PILLARS.

>> THIS WAS A SPACE CREATED FOR CHICANOS AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A MOM WHO WAS A DOWN CHICANNA.

SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE THE AS TECHS AND EVERYTHNG IN THE HISTORY BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE GET IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS WATERED DOWN.

>> Reporter: SHE ATTENDED MOSTLY WHITE SCHOOLS WHERE SHE QUESTIONED WHETHER SHE BELONGED.

SHE SAYS THE PARK GAVE HER A SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT HER OWN HISTORY AND EMBRACE HER CHICANA IDENTITY.

>> SEEING THE PILLARS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AS BROWN AS I AM% AND DARKER, I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER PUT IT INTO ACTUAL WORDS BUT THERE'S THIS -- IT'S JUST ALWAYS A SENSE OF JOY, NO MATTER WHAT.

LIKE THERE'S NO REASON TO BE SAD IN THE PARK.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR MARKED THE END OF A CYCLE OF THE AZTEC CALENDAR.

THE ELDERS HELD A RITUAL TO SYMBOLIZE PASSING PARK STEWARDSHIP TO THE YOUNGER CHICANOS.

THE PARK COMMITTEE IS EYEING NEW PROJECTS LIKE AN ELECTRIC BUS FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS, AND PLACING A LID ON THE FREEWAY SUPPORTED BY LOCAL LEADERS INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN JUAN VARGAS.

IT WOULD CONNECT THE COMMUNITY AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1960s.

UNDER THE PRESSURE OF GENTRIFICTION, SHE SAYS THE PARK MESSAGE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE SAME.

>> WE'RE HERE, WE'RE NOT LEAVING.

>> Reporter: KATIE HYSON, KPBS úNEWS.

>> Maya: MANY OF THE STORIES THAT WE FEATURE ON KPBS THUS THIS WEEK CAN BE FOUND AT THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE AND THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE STREAM EPISODES OF KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEK NIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> CONSTRUCTION OF A PHYSICAL BORDER WALL HAS BEEN A MAJOR POINT OF DISCUSSION IN RECENT YEARS BUT THE CONCEPT OF A VIRTUAL BORDER WALL IS GETTING FEWER HEADLINES.

KPBS BORDER REPORTER GUSTAVO SOLIS SPOKE WITH EXPERTS WHO SAY RELYING ON SURVEILLANCE MORE HUMANE OR EFFECTIVE.

>> Reporter: THE BORDER WALL HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF AMERICA'S IMMIGRATION DEBATE EVER SINCE DONALD TRUMP MADE IT THE CENTERPIECE OF HIS 2016 PRESIDENTIA CAMPAIGN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A WALL.

IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE'S ANOTHER BORDER WALL.

A VIRTUAL WALL.

AD IT'S RECEIVED MUCH LESS ATTENTION.

IT'S A MASS NETWORK OF NEARLY 300 SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, MOTION SENSORS, AND MILITARY-GRADE DRONES ALL SPREAD ACROSS THE - BORDER.

THEY'RE VERY HARD TO FIND AND AREN'T ALWAYS IN THE PLACES YOU'D EXPECT.

SURE, THERE ARE SEVERAL CAMERAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE BORDER BUT THERE ARE ALSO SURVEILLANCE TOWERS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC PARKS.% THERE'S ONE IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ONE NEAR THE DEL MAR D BEACH 32 MILES NORTH OF THE ACTUAL BORDER.

UNTIL A MONTH AGO, THE EXACT LOCATION OF THESE TOWERS WAS A CMPLETE MYSTERY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAD NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED THIS INFORMATION.

>> BUT NOBODY REALLY HAD A GOOD SENSE OF WHERE THESE TOWERS WERE.

>> Reporter: DAVE MAASS SPENT MONHS MAPPING THEM OUT AND THE RESULT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE MAP OF SURVEILLANCE INFRASRUCTURE ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

MAASS SAYS THE SCOPE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY RAISES SERIOUS PRIVACY CONCERNS.

>> IN THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE IN D.C. AND IN PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA, THE BORDER IS JUST THIS DESERT WASTELAND AND THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU WOULD EVER ENCOUNTER ALONG THE BORDER ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND CARTELS AND SMUGGLERS.

NOW, FOLKS IN SAN DIEGO KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

PEOPL LIVE NEAR THE BORDER.

>> Reporter: AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF SURVEILLANCE.

>> AND THESE TOWERS CAN SOMETIMES SEE UP TO LIKE 7.5 LES.

THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES THT THEY COULD PRY INTO AND CCTV HAS EARNED THE TRUST OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

> Reporter: THE SHEER SIZE AND RUGGED TERRAIN OF THE BORDER MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE PRIVACY CONCERNS RAISED BY THIS VIRTUAL BORDER WALL BUT THANKS TO VR TECHNOLOGY, WE NOW HAVE A BETTER SENSE.

>> SO WHAT I HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU IS WE ARE GOING TO GO ON A TOUR OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FROM SAN DIEGO TO BROWNSVILLE.

SO WE'LL DO THE WHOLE BORDER AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.

S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. S. RHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> OKAY SO WE ARE GOING TO START IN SOME PLACE THAT IS FAIRLY FAMILIAR TO YOU.

THIS IS FRIENDSHIP PARK.

TH IS ACTUALLY FRIENDSHIP PARK THINK 2018 OR SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: WE COVERED HUNDREDS OF MILES IN MERE SECONDS.

MAASS TOOK ME TO -- >> THIS IS NACO, ARIZONA WE ARE AT THE ENTRANCE TO OREGON PIPE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

LET ME TAKE YOU TO LAREDO, TEXAS WHERE WE ARE NOW AT A PUBLIC PARK WHERE PEOPLE PLAY SOCCER.

THIS IS IN McCOWAN TEXAS.

>> Reporter: CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION SAID THESE TOWER GIVE AGENTS IN THE FIELD A SIGNIFICANT LEG UP AGAINST CRIMINAL NETWORKS, THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF BORDER SECURITY AND ON THIS ISSUE, THERE'S AGREEMENT ON BOTH SIDES THE POLITICAL AISLE.

IN 2019, DEMOCRATS PROMOTED THE IDA OF VIRTUAL BORDERS AS A MORE HUMANE ALTERNATIVE TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S BORDER WALL.

HERE IS CONGRES MAN SCOTT PETERS DESCRIBING THE VIRTUAL WALL.

>> IT MIGHT BE SENSORS AND RADAR TO SPOT MOVING PEOPLE AND OBJECTS IN ANY WEATHER OR ANY TME OF DAY.

IT MIGHT BE CAMERAS MOUNTED ON DRONES TO SURVEIL PLACES WHERE THE TERRAIN IS TOUGH TO MONITOR.

>> Report: PETERS DID NOT REPOND TO AN INTERVIEW REQUEST- FOR THIS STORY.

DESPITE THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, EXPERTS SAY THAT THESE TOWERS RESULT IN MORE MIGRANT DEATHS.

AND THEY DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THE MOST COMMON METHOD OF DRUG SMUGGLING WHICH IS TO SIMPLY DRIVE THROUGH A LEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS.

SAM CHAMBERS IS A RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA STUDYING HOW BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRIBUTES TO MIGRANT DEATHS.

>> PEOPLE MOVING AROUND OUT OF SIGHT OF THESE TOWERS MEANS THEY'RE TAKING LONGER JOURNEYS.

>> Reporter: BY TAKING LONGER JOURNEYS, THEY PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK OF MULTIPLE HEALTH ISSUES LIKE -- >> KIDNEY DAMAGE, DEHYDRATION OR HEAT STROKE ARE INCREASED WITH THIS SO IT'S MAKING THE JOURNEY MORE DANGEROUS AND A GREATER RISK OF DYING.

>> Reporter: CHAMBERS' RESEARCH IS ONLY IN ARIZONA BUT HE SAYS THE NEW VIRTUAL MAP WILL HELP HIM STUDY OTHER PARTS OF THE BORDER.

úHUMAN AND DRUG SMUGGLIG ALONG THE BORDER SINCE THE LATE 1980s.

HE TALKS WITH HUMAN SMUGGLING KNOWN AS COYOTES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEY TELL HIM THAT THE BORDER TOWERS ARE NOT STOPPING THEM WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S OWN DATA SHOWS THAT MOST ENTER THE U.S. LIEU LEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS.

HE SAYS PUTTING UP SURVEILLANCE TOWERS IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE DESERT ISN'T GOING TO STOP THAT.

HE SAYS IT'S REALLY JUST A NUMBERS GAME AND THE NUMBERS ARE STACKED UP AGAINST CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

ESPECIALLY IN SAN ISDRO.

CPP AGENTS ONLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SEND A FRACTION OF - THEM TO SECONDARY INSPECTION.

THEY SAY THE VOLUME IS TOO OVERWHELMING.

MAASS WANTS THE VIRTUAL MAP THAT THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION CREATED TO LEAD TO MORE POLICY MAKING ON THIS.

> PEOPLE CAN EVALUATE AND SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING IN NEAR MY HOUSE OR MY RANCH.

>> Reporter: OR AT THE VERY EAST LET PEOPLE KNOW WHO'S% WATCHING THEM.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>> AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST úREAD STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG A BOOST FOR THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH BAY.

SEE THE OPENING OF A NEW RETAILER IN CHULA VISTA ON 4/20.

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A SHOW THIS SPRING.

SEE MORE OF THE WILD FLOUR BLOOM AT MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK AND MORE OF OUR CLIMATE CHANGE COVERAGE, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON HAS THIS STORY ON IPERIAL BEACH AND THE CHALLENGS AHEAD AS SEA LEVELS RISE.

>> Reporter: THE RISK OF RISING SEA LEVELS WAS IN FULL VIEW IN THE WINTER OF 2019.

A PACIFIC STORM RELENTLESSLY PUSHED 10 TO 15-FOOT WAVES AT THE SHORE.

AT THE SAME TIME, A KING TIDE WAS RAISING SEA LEVELS MORE THAN A FOOT ABOVE NORMAL HIGH TIDES.

- THE RESULT WAS PREDICTABLE.

AND SEA COAST DRIVE GOT SOAKED.

>> HIGH TIDE EVENTS, COUPLE THAT WITH RAIN EVENTS, COUPLE THAT WITH WAVE EVENTS YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE CREATED THE PERFECT STORM FOR A SITUATION LIKE THESE PARTICULAR HOUSES.

>> Reporter: JULIA FELDER IS A SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY RESEARCHER TRACKING SEA LEVELS ALONG THE IMPERIAL BEACH SHORE FOR YEARS.

>> WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET FLOODING FOM THE COAST YOU'RE GOING TO GET FLOODING FROM INLAND AND IT ALL SORTS OF COMBINES TO MAKE EVERYTHING WET.

>> Reporter: JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, WAVES ARE WASHING OVER THE COASTAL ARMAMENTS ON REGULAR SUNNY DAYS WITH NORMAL SIX-FOOT-HIGH TIDES.

THE RISING WATER IS MAKING ITS PRESENCE FELT INLAND FAR AWAY OM THE SHORE.

>> THESE THINGS ARE REAL HEAVY.

THERE YOU GO.

>> Reporter: CHRIS ELMER WORKS FOR THE IMPERIAL BEACH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HE'S LOOKING INTO A MANHOLE ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF TOWN.

>> LOOKING DOWN HERE.

YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE WATER COMING UP IN OUR STORM DRAIN úSYSTEM.

>> Reporter: EVEN ON A CLEAR DAY, THERE IS STANDIN WATER IN A PIPE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO FLUSH RAINWATER T OF THE TOWN AND INTO THE TIJUANA ESTUARY.

THIS PERSON WORKS FOR SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE'S STUDYING HOW THE RISING LOCAL GROUND WATER TABLE IS LEADING TO WHAT HE CALLS COMPOUND FLOODING.

>> MOST STUDIES SO FAR, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON SEA LEVEL IMPACTS ON THE COASTLINE BUT NOW YOU HAVE THIS WHOLE URBAN SYSTEM, MOST BEING UNDERGROUN AND NOW YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE GROUND WATER IS RISING.

>> Reporter: THE RISING SEA LEVEL IS PUSHING SEA WATER úINLAND UNDER THE GROUND AND SINCE SEA WATER IS HEAVIER THAN FRESH, THEY COLLIDE, PUSHING UP THE UNDERGROUND FRESH WATER TABLE.

>> RISING SEA LEVEL IS HAPPENING AD NOW WE CAN SHOW IT, IT IS ACTUALLY MORE URGENT THAN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE PREVIOUS STUDIES FOCUSED ON COASTLINE AND ONLY ABOVE THE% GROUND INTERACTION.

NOW WE'RE TALKING UNDERGROUND SO HE ISSUE OF COMPOUND FLOODING WHEN A TYPICAL RAIN CAN CAUSE FLOODING, THAT'S THE ONE WE EXPECT TO GET WORSE.

>> Reporter: AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THE CITY'S STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING.

>> WE KNOW EVERY PIPE HAS A TRACK AND ONCE IT'S SATURATED IT FINDS ITS WAY, INFILTRATES INTO THE PIPE SO THEN IF WE CAN CONSERVE RAINWATER IN ANY WAY, RAINWATER HARVESTING KIND OF INDIRECTLY.

>> Reporter: THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, EVERY HOME AND APARTMENT, ADD RAIN BARRELS TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE AGING STORM WATER SYSTEM.

JENNIFER GAILEY SELLS RAIN BARRELS AT THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION.

SHE'S NOT CONVINCED IT'S A COMPLETE SOLUTION.

>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM AND HERE IS PART OF THE SOLUTION.

AND BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING, IT'S PART OF THE SOLUTION, IS GETTING THESE RAIN BARRELS.

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WITH SOME DIFFICULT CHOICES.

STREET FLOODING ALREADY HAPPENS IN INLAND AREAS FAR AWAY FROM THE BEACH.

AND FLOODING WILL BECOME MORE SERIOUS AS SEA LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE.

>> IMPERIAL BEACH, IT'S ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD, IN TERMS OF ADAPTATION.

THE TOOLS THAT THE CITY IS TAKING IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW TO MITIGATE WHAT IGHT BE COMING.

>> Reporter: A CHALLENGE FOR IMPERIAL BEACH OFFICIALS IS TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T BANRUPT THE CITY'S TREASURY.

RIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>> Maya: FOR GENERATIONS THEIR FUR WAS WORN ON COLLARS AND COATS AND THEY HAVE BEEN PORTRAED AS WILY CHARACTERS IN POPULAR CULTURE BUT A RESCUE SANCTUARY WANTS TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT FOXES ALTHOUGH úMISCHIEVIOUS HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE INCLUDING THEIR POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING SKILLS.

>> Reporter: THE STILLNESS ON% THE HILLTOP IN SANTA ISABELLE DOESNT LAST LONG AS THE SOUNDS OF WOODLAND CREATURES PROVIDE NATURE'S CONCERT.

THEIR HOME IS THIS CENTER AND THE WORK BEING DONE HERE COULD D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D DOG TRAINER ANITA CHEESEMAN IS NOT WORKING WITH DOGS TODAY.

SHE'S TRAINING FOXES TO DO NOSE WORK, DETECTING SPECIFIC ODORS INSIDE PLASTIC BOXES.

>> HE MADE A U-TURN BECAUSE HE SMELLED THE ODOR AND NOW HE FOUND IT.

>> Reporter: CHEESEMAN LIVES UP TO HER NAME AND PROVIDES A MORSE OF CHEESE WITH EACH POSITIVE ODOR DETECTION.

UNLIKE EVEN THE BEST-TRAINED DOGS, SHE IS FOXES HAVE A UNIQUE TALET THAT COULD ONE DAY SAVE LIVES.

>> GOOD BOY.

>> Reporter: THERE'S ARE NO ORDINARY FOXES.

- THESE ARE RUSSIAN DOMESTICATED FOXE.

AMY AND DAVE BASSET WHO OWN AND RUN THIS CONSERVATION CENTER CARE FOR 14 OF THEM BROUGHT OVER FROM RUSSIA TEN YEARS AGO.

>> AND AT THAT POINT, NO ONE HAD EVER BROUGHT ONE TO THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY'RE IN RUSSIA, NOT ONLY RUSSIA BUT SIBERIA, RUSSIA.

>> Reporter: THE FOXES WERE PART OF WHAT IS CALLED THE RUSSIN DOMESTICATED FOX PROGRAM STARTED BY A SOVIET SCIENTIST IN HE 1950s.

HIS GOAL WAS TO RECREATE THE EVOLUION OF WOLF TO DOMESTICATED PET DOG, A PROCESS THAT TOOK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

BUT WITH FOXES, HE WANTED TO DO IT IN A MATTER OF DECADES.

THE PROGRAM HAS SEEN MUCH SUCCESS.

THE FOXES EVOLVED TO BEHAVE MORE LIKE DOGS.

>> THEY BREED ONLY THE MOST FRIENDLY ONE AND THEN THEY DO THE SAME THING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THEN THEY GOT FOUND AFTER ABOUT TEN GENERATIONS OR SO THEY WERE GETTING MORE FRIENDLY.

THE FOXES WERE EXCITED TO SEE PEPLE, THEY WOULD COME UP AND WAG THEIR TAILS.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE A WILD OR FUR FARM BRED FOX, THESE FOXES ARE NOT TIMID, DO NOT KEEP A FLIGHT DISTANCE AND RESEMBLE THE BEHAVIOR OF HUMAN-LOVING DOGS.

THY'RE HAPPY TO SEE US AND EVEN ENJOY BEING HELD, KISSED AND TREATED LIKE BABIES.

SO WHY IS THIS TYPE OF NOSE DETECTION WORK SO IMPORTANT TO THE BASSETS?

THE ANSWER LIES IN THE UNIQUE WAY FOXES HUNT.

>> WE'LL SEE THEM WALKING SLOWLY THE SNOW AND THEIR EARS ARE GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STOP AND HONE IN AND JUMP SIX FEET IN THE AIR, HIT THE SNOW NOSE FIRST.

DIG DOWN THREE FEET, COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A RODENT IN THEIR MOUTH.

THEIR HEARING IS VERY WELL ATTUNED TO HEARING THE TYPES OF FREQUENCIES OF THINGS UNDER THE SNOW.

>> Reporter: AND WHILE THEIR NOSES ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND THEIR HEARING EXTRAORDINARY, IT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT SEEMINGLY SETS THEM APART AS HUNTERS IT'S CALLED MAGNETO DETECTION.

THEY CAN SEE THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH AND ALIGN THEIR BODIES FOR PRECISION.

>> AND THAT WORKS PERFECT FOR AVALANCHE RESCUE BECAUSE SOMEONE úIS STUCK UNDER SNOW, THEY'RE MOVING AROUND AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNE TO DETECT THAT.

>> IF WE CAN TRAIN THEM TO DO SEARCH AND RESCUE WORK, AVALANCE RESCUE BOY, WOULD PEOPLE SEE THEM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE COUPLE SAY TOO MANY PEOPLE SEE FOXES AS ANIMALS COULD BE KILLED FOR THEIR FUR OR FOR SPORT.

THEY WANT FOXES TO BE SEEN AS CREATURES WITH A POSITIVE PURPOSE.

YOU CAN CALL IT FOX P.R.

>> IF WE ACTUALLY HAD THEM SEEN AS SAVIOURS, GOING INTO YOU CAN IMAGINE AN EARTHQUAKE AND SOMEBODY COMES DOWN OFF THE HELICOPTER WITH THEIR SIX FOXES ALL STRAPPED AROUND THEM AND THEN, BOOM, THERE'S ONE HERE, THERE'S ONE THERE, ONE THERE, ONE THERE AND SHOWING PEOPLE THEIR SKILLSET AND FINDING THINGS UNDERNEATH THE GROUND, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD REALLY GIVE THEM A -- PEOPLE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THEM.

>> Reporter: BUT FIRST, THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL AND GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGES.

THE RUSSIAN PROGRAM WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE NIH BUT - SINCE THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, THOSE TIES HAVE BEEN CUT.

THIS MEANS, AT LEAST FOR NOW, NO- MORE FOXES CAN BE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES.

>> SO THERE ARE NO OTHER POPULATIONS OF THESE FOXES SO IF THEY GO EXTINCT THERE, THEY'RE EXTINCT >> THE BASSETS SAY THE FOXES ARE CONSIDERED A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND THEIR GENETICS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.

SO EACH ONE IS STERILIZED TO DISCOURAGE ANY BREEDING OUTSIDE OF THE RUSSIAN PROGRAM WHICH IS úSTILL ACTIVE TODAY.

BUT EVEN THROUGH GENERATIONS OF DOMESTICATION ONE LITTLE GENETIC HURDLE REMAINS.

>> MY GIRL.

>> NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: THE FOX IS CURIOUS AND MISCHIEVIOUS NATURE STANDS TRUE.

NEVER EATEN BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE.

>> Reporter: SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME RECALL AS DENUCLEARIZATION, THE BASSETS SAY RELEASING THEM TO RESCUE EOPLE AT THIS POINT IS A DICEY PROPOSITION.

>> THEY MIGHT RUN AND FIND THE úPEEP HOLE BUT NOW THEY'LL SAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR MICE, SEE YOU LATER, SO ONE RESCUE, ONE FOX KIND OF A DEAL.

>> Reporter: THE KEY, HE SAYS, IS TO TRAIN THEM AS YOUNG PUPS, UT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE BASSETS WILL GET ACCESS TO PUPS NY TIME SOON.

EVEN SO, THEY'RE HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT WE COULD ONE DAY SEE THESE ANIMALS SAVING HUMAN LIVES.

>> PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T TEACH A FOX TO DO SEARCH AND RESCUES AND WE SAY JUST WATCH US.

AND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN TODAY, IT MAY NOT HAPPEN TOMORROW, BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON IT.

>> GOOD GIRL.

>> Reporter: AND THE BASSETS ADD THAT OWNING A PET FOX IS ILEGAL IN MOST STATES INCLUDING HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

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