>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

CUTTING CORNERS WHERE THEY CAN.

SDGE CUSTOMERS SHOWING US WHAT THEY DO TO COPE WITH HIGHER THAN NORMAL BILLS THIS MONTH.

>>> IN HONOR LONG-OVERDUE.

A NAVY VETERAN RECOGNIZED FOR THE BRAVERY HE HAD TO KEEP SECRET FOR YEARS.

>>> A PRIZE FINDING FITTING FOR SAN DIEGO.

MORE THAN MONEY THAT IS ON THE LINE AS WE GET THE PJ FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN.

>> WE START WITH A SNAPSHOT THAT WILL PLAY A BIG PART IN HOW SAN DIEGO DEALS WITH HOMELESSNESS MOVING FORWARD.

VOLUNTEERS UP EARLY THIS THURSDAY FOR THE POINT AND TIME COUNT , AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED IN THE AREA.

FAR FROM A DOWNTOWN PROBLEM.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER, TANIA THORNE WENT OUT WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS IN ESCONDIDO .

>> Reporter: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HOMELESS?

THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS VOLUNTEERS SET OUT TO ASK PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN TODAY'S POINT AND TIME COUNT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION YOU GET A $10 GIFT CARD.

>> Reporter: JASMINE LEE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE COUNT.

SHE HAS BEEN HOMELESS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

SHE HAS BEEN FORCED TO LIVE IN AN ENCAMPMENT NEAR THE ESCONDIDO FREEWAY.

>> THEY WON'T LET YOU PARKER STUFF ANYWHERE.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS MADE THIS AREA HER HOME FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS.

SHE SAYS CLEANING SWEEPS HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING.

LEE SAYS I.D.s AND DOCUMENTS ARE OFTEN DISCARDED DURING THOSE SWEEPS.

>> YOU WANT TO GET A CAR DO ALL THESE THINGS, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE AN IDEA.

IS BACK TO BACK, CONSTANT.

>> Reporter: THE BIGGEST SETBACK IS THE LACK OF SHELTER BEDS FOR PEOPLE LIKE LEE.

FRED ANGELL IS THE CEO OF INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES.

>> WE ARE IN A RIVERBED AREA HERE SO THE RECENT STORMS CREATED DAMAGE , THERE IS MORE TRASH AND DEBRIS AND THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE COME HERE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GO.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE EXPECTS THE NUMBERS TO BE HIGHER THIS YEAR.

>> LAST YEAR WE COUNTED ABOUT 2000 INDIVIDUALS JUST IN NORTH COUNTY.

THERE ARE ONLY 150 SHELTER BEDS AND IN THE TIRE COUNTY.

THE AVAILABILITY OF SHELTER DOESN'T MATCH HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE LIVING IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THIS YEAR'S COUNT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MORE FUNDING IS NEEDED.

>> IT SHOWS THE NEED FOR MORE INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY ARE PLANNING TO OPEN A 36 BED SHELTER IN MARCH, UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND EXPECTED TO OPEN -- >> THOSE THAT HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME ARE SPENDING MORE THIS MONTH FOR BASIC UTILITIES.

ERIK ANDERSON MET WITH SDGE CUSTOMERS ON THE BIG JUMP IN JANUARY BILLS.

>> Reporter: LIVING JUST EAST OF SAN DIEGO FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

>> IS COZY AND WARM.

I REALLY LIKE IT.

IT IS CLOSE TO WORK AS WELL, WHICH IS A HUGE PLUS.

>> Reporter: HER 650 SQUARE FOOT HOME HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT WARM RECENTLY AS SHE BRACES FOR A BIG SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC BILL.

SHE IS ALREADY CHANGING HER DAILY ROUTINES.

>> I TRY NOT TO USE THE GAS HEATER.

OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE TO COOK.

I CANNOT TURN ON ALL THE LIGHTS.

SOMETIMES I WILL SIT HERE AT NIGHT WITH JUST CANDLES AND THE TV.

>> Reporter: SHE SPENT HALF OF THE PAST MONTH HOUSESITTING ELSEWHERE AND HER JANUARY BILL, STILL TOPPED $100.

SHE PAID ABOUT $60 IN NOVEMBER.

SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE ON-TIME PAYMENTS BUT MANY SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS ARE NOT.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT 2.7 MILLION CUSTOMERS AND OF THAT APPROXIMATELY 341,000 OR 25% ARE AT SOME LEVEL BEHIND ON THEIR BILL.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC SAY DELINQUENCIES ARE COUNTED AS PEOPLE ARE AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEHIND.

MOST ARE MORE THAN 60 DAYS LATE.

IT IS A SURPRISINGLY LARGE NUMBER.

25 YEARS AGO THE NUMBERS WERE MORE LIKE 10 OR 15%, 25% CLEARLY SUGGESTS THE COST OF HOME ENERGY BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE.

THE PLANS WE HAVE IN PLACE AREN'T SUFFICIENT TO PLAY THESE BILLS.

>> Reporter: ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE ALREADY ENROLLED IN AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THE CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE RATES FOR ENERGY AND THE FAMILY ELECTRIC RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

BOTH OFFER RATE REDUCTIONS BASED ON FAMILY INCOME.

SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC STILL HAVE ABOUT $200 MILLION IN DELINQUENT CUSTOMER DEBTS.

>> PLACES A VERY SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: POWER SHUT OFF HAVE NOT HAPPENED SINCE MARCH OF 2020, THE STATEWIDE COVID PROHIBITION ON DISCONNECTIONS EXPIRED IN 2021, SDGE HAS NOT CUT OFF POWER FOR DELINQUENT BILLS SINCE 2020 BUT THAT WILL LIKELY CHANGE THIS YEAR.

THE UTILITIES NEED TO START COLLECTING NOT TO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WITH PAST DUE BILLS.

HE IS QUICK TO SAY THAT CUSTOMERS STRUGGLING HAVE OPTIONS.

>> AS LONG AS YOU ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH US AND YOU HAVE A STRATEGY WITH THE UTILITY ON HOW TO PAY OFF YOUR REAR EDGE WE WILL NOT DISCONNECT YOU.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE IN COMMUNICATIONS.

>> Reporter: WAGNER SAYS THE ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH GOSPEL SHOULD FALL AGAIN NEXT MONTH WHEN TEMPERATURES CLIMB AND DEMAND FADES AND GASTRIC GAS RATES ARE RESET.

THE HIGH BILLS HAVE HER MAKING TOUGH BUDGETARY CHOICES.

>> I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND THERE AREN'T GOING TO BE ANY MORE MONEY THAN THERE IS AND I NEED TO BUDGET EVERY MONTH.

THINGS THAT VARY FROM MONTH TO MONTH SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT ME MORE THAN PERHAPS PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN THEIR INCREASED EARNINGS YEARS.

BY EVEN CUSTOMERS NOT STRUGGLING MAKE REAL THE PHYSICAL PAIN.

AN EAGLE GAS AND ELECTRIC CANNOT COLLECT AND OUT TANNING THAT, THE UTILITY WILL ROLL THAT DEBT INTO ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS RATE WHICH RAISES UTILITY PRICES AND KEEPS PRESSURE ON CUSTOMERS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT IS A WAIT-AND-SEE.

FOR LOCAL JANITORS WHO KEEP COUNTY BUILDINGS CLEAN.

>> Reporter: JANITORIAL WORKERS MEANT TO BUSINESS AS THEY RALLIED OUTSIDE OF THAT SAN DIEGO COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN SOME THE FORMER COWORKERS WHO CLAIM THEY SUFFERED SEVERE PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION FOR TRYING TO START A UNION FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS.

ONE OF THEM IS SOPHIA MARTINEZ.

>> THEY MADE ME DUMP 15 LITERS OF CHEMICALS ON THE FLOOR THAT SMELLED REALLY BAD AND REMOVED THE RESIDUE OFF OF THE FLOOR WITH A KNIFE FOR EIGHT HOURS ON IT BY HAND THE KNEES.

THE NEXT DAY THEY WANTED ME TO DO THE SAME THING AND I SAID NO.

I NEEDED THE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT MY HANDS WERE BURNED AND MY NOSE WAS BLEEDING SHE SAID.

TINA SAID SHE FELT SO SICK THAT SHE WENT HOME AND COULD NOT DO THE SAME WORK THE NEXT DAY.

SHE SAID THAT IS WHY SHE WAS FIRED BY KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES.

CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ IS THE POLICY DIRECTOR WITH THE SERVICE INTERNATIONAL UNION AND THE UNION MARTINEZ WAS ORGANIZING FOR.

THE UNION DEMANDING NOVA GIVE THE FIRED WORKERS THEIR JOB BACK.

>> 20 YEARS AGO , THEY WERE HIRING MOSTLY IMMIGRANT WOMEN TO WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.

PAYING THE MINIMUM WAGE WITH NO HEALTH METHODS, NO PAID HOLIDAYS, NO PAID VACATION.

ON TOP OF THAT, THEY HAVE PLACED UNJUST WORKING CONDITIONS.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO NOVA AND THEY TOLD US THEY COULD NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO SAY THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY.

NORA VARGAS THE FIRST LATINA ELECTED CHAIR MET WITH THE JANITORS IN THE MORNING AND SHE CAME OUT JUST BEFORE THE SUPERVISORS MEETING TO GIVE THE WORKERS A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU -- >> Reporter: SHE ASKED THE JANITORS FOR TWO WEEKS TO NEGOTIATE AND THEY AGREED.

>> NO ONE IN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS ALLOWED TO BE TREATED AND DISRESPECTED, NOT ON MY WATCH.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ THAT SHE HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR TWO WEEKS WITHOUT PAY AND SHE SAYS HER LUNGS STILL HURT AND CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

TODAY SHE WENT INSIDE THE BUILDING SHE HAD CLEANED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS SOPHIA MARTINEZ AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE COUNTY FOR 10 YEARS.

>> Reporter: ONLY THIS TIME, STANDING BEHIND THE PODIUM AND SPEAKING TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SHE RECOUNTED THE ABUSE THAT ALSO SPOKE ABOUT WHY SHE PUT UP WITH THE MISTREATMENT.

FOR HER 14-YEAR-OLD FOSTER SON.

STEPHEN I AM >> I AM TEACHING HIM HE NEEDS TO PICK UP AND NOT BE AFRAID.

NOT BE QUIET, BUT TO FIGHT WITH WORDS.

>> Reporter: HER SON IS THE ONE WHO GAVE HER THE STRENGTH FIGHTING BECAUSE SHE FOUGHT FOR HIM TOO.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: MARTINEZ CAME OUT OF THE BUILDING, THE VERY SAME ONE SHE SAID SHE SCRAPED THE FLOOR SOAKED IN CHEMICALS FOR EIGHT HOURS ON HER KNEES.

SHE WAS MET WITH CHEERS.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>> ANOTHER WAY TO FIND ALL OF OUR KPBS CONTENT IS ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN FIND STORIES FROM OUR NEWSROOM AND OF OUR LOCAL PRODUCE SHOWS.

WE ALSO LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

THIS NEXT STORY WAS ONE OF OUR MOST READ THIS WEEK.

A CAREER DEFINING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WENT LARGELY UNKNOWN FOR 70 YEARS.

AS KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US, A NAVY VETERAN IS GETTING LONG OVERDUE RECOGNITION.

>> Reporter: IN FRONT OF THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, A CEREMONY HELD AND AN HONOR BESTOWED ON A VERY SPECIAL AMERICAN.

HUNDREDS WATCHED SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND THE NAVY CROSS PINNED ONTO CAPTAIN ROYCE WILLIAMS.

THE EVENT THAT LED TO THIS DAY AND HAPPENED SEVEN YEARS AGO DURING THE KOREAN WAR.

THEN LIEUTENANT WILLIAMS AND HIS SQUADRON WERE FLYING NEAR THE COAST OF NORTH KOREA ARE MEMBERS OF HIS SQUADRON SPOTTED A GROUP OF SOVIET MAKE FIGHTERS.

LEAVING WILLIAMS ALONE TO BATTLE THE ENEMY.

>> THEY SHOT FIRST.

GAME ON AND I HAD NO CHOICE.

>> Reporter: FOR THE NEXT 35 MINUTES WILLIAMS FOUGHT THE MiGs AND A PANTHER WHICH HE CALLS AN INFERIOR PLANE BUT -- >> I HAD BETTER GUNS.

>> Reporter: HE USE THOSE GUNS TO SHOOT DOWN FOUR MiGs.

WILLIAMS WAS STILL ABLE TO GET BACK TO HIS SHIP, THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND SAFELY LAND.

THE SOVIET UNION WAS NOT OFFICIALLY INVOLVED IN THE KOREAN WAR AND THE NAVY YARD PUBLICITY ABOUT THE EVENT WOULD FORCE THE SOVIETS HAND CAUSE THEM TO ENTER THE WAR IN SUPPORT OF NORTH KOREA.

SO -- >> I WAS TOLD TO NEVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: HE RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR AND THAT WAS THAT.

UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER WHEN CONGRESSMAN LEARNED OF HIS HEROISM.

FINALLY REACHING THE DESK OF NAVY SECRETARY WHO SAYS IT WAS NOT A TOUGH DECISION.

>> IT DID NOT TAKE MUCH TO CONVINCE ME THIS IS A RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION.

THIS MAN DESERVES THE NAVY CROSS .

>> Reporter: AFTER TODAY'S FAMILY, CAPTAIN WILLIAMS RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN ESCONDIDO .

ESCONDIDO MEANS HIDDEN , AND ORDERABLE IRONY FOR ONE OF ITS MOST DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS WHO HEROISM IS NOT HIDDEN NO LONGER.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR THOSE HOPING TO BECOME AMERICANS OR GRANTED ASYLUM, THAT GOAL LARGELY RELIES ON AN APP.

KPBS BORDER REPORTER FOUND, GETTING IT TO WORK HAS NOT BEEN SO EASY.

>> Reporter: TRYING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, THE NEW MOBILE APP THAT ASYLUM SEQUENCE MUST USE TO GET INTO THE U.S. A MIGRANT FROM THE MEXICANS AND STATE IS HAVING DIFFICULTIES.

HE SAYS THE WI-FI AT THE TIJUANA MIGRANT SHELTER IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE APP AND IT KEEPS CRASHING ON HIM.

HE CAME TO GET SOME HELP AT THE LOCAL CITY HALL, THAT IS WHERE CITY EMPLOYEES ARE HELPING MIGRANT CREATE THEIR OWN PROFILES ON CBP1.

SINCE 2020 BORDER OFFICIALS HAVE TURNED AWAY 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE INCLUDING MANY ASYLUM-SEEKERS AT THE FORCE OF INJURY.

BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MIGRANTS COME TO CITY HALL EVERY DAY ASKING FOR HELP.

ALL OF THEM ARE FLAYING THEIR HOMES HE SAYS AND THEY'VE ALREADY TRIED CROSSING THE BORDER AND RETURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF TITLE 42 AND WERE TOLD TO SIGN UP FOR THE APP, TITLE 42 IS A CONTROVERSIAL BORDER POLICY THAT ALLOWS ENTRY DENIAL WITHOUT A COURT HEARING.

THERE ARE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HAPPENED SOME MIGRANTS HAVE AN APP OR INTERNET ACCESS AND IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

OVERALL LUCERO SAYS THERE ARE MORE POSITIVES THAN NEGATIVES.

THIS APP GIVES THEM DIRECT ACCESS TO THAT U.S. ASYLUM SYSTEM AND MOSTLY AN EMPLOYMENT STATE.

ALL OF THIS SHOULD MAKE MIGRANTS LESS VULNERABLE TO HUMANS MODELERS.

NONETHELESS HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DON'T HAVE FAITH ON CBP ONE.

HER OFFICE IS ALREADY SEEING VULNERABLE MIGRANTS GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PEOPLE CHARGING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP PEOPLE FILL OUT CBP ONE APPLICATIONS.

ESPECIALLY HAITIANS WHO DON'T BEGIN LEISURE SPANISH.

>> Reporter: APART FROM THE LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS, CBP ONE MAKES SEEKING ASYLUM LIKE TRYING TO BUY TICKETS FOR A TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT.

>> IT IS BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION AND CHANCE .

IT WORKS LIKE TICKETMASTER.

SOME PEOPLE GET TICKETS AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T.

THAT IS WHAT CBP ONE HAS REDUCED THAT U.S. ASYLUM SYSTEM TWO.

>> Reporter: APPLICANTS DID IT TAKE A PHOTO OF THEIR BASIC TICKET PROFILE AND STUDY SHOW THAT OTHER FORMS OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY USED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO A POOR JOB OF IDENTIFYING PEOPLE OF CERTAIN RACES AND IS NOT THESE.

>> THERE ARE PRETTY HIGH ERROR RATE WITH CERTAIN RACES, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND ASIAN APPLICANTS.

WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WHITE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARDER TIME WITH THE FACIAL RECOGNITION FEATURE.

>> Reporter: BACK AT THE CITY HALL, WE SAW THIS PLAY OUT IN REAL TIME.

AN ELDERLY HAITIAN WOMAN STRUGGLED TO GET THE APP TO RECOGNIZE HER FACE.

SHE GREW INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED AS SHE HELD THE PHONE IN FRONT OF HER FACE AND WAITED FOR THE APP TO KEN.

MARIA TRIED DOZENS OF TIMES AND THE PHONE COULD NOT MAKE OUT HER BLACK FACE FROM THE DARK BACKGROUND.

WE TRY TO HELP HER BY TURNING AROUND AND FACING THE LIGHT.

>> Reporter: FOR A SECOND IT SEEMED TO WORK IN THE FACE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE APP BEGAN TO SCAN AND THEN THE SCREEN WENT BLANK.

ASSUMING MARIA EVENTUALLY GET THE APP TO WORK SHE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

ALL OF JANUARY IS BOOKED.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A NEW MILITARY REPORTER HERE AT KPBS NEWS AND FOR ONE OF HIS FIRST STORIES, ANDREW DYER TRAVELED TO SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL REBOUND IS HAPPENING ON A MILITARY TRAINING GROUND.

>> Reporter: RECENTLY MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA HAD A TWO OR OF SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND 25 MILES WEST OF SAN DIEGO.

UNLIKE ITS WELL-KNOWN NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH, CATALINA, SAM CLEMENTE IS NOT ACCESSIBLE BY THE PUBLIC.

THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS HOME TO A TRAINING FACILITY AND SERVES AS IT HE TRAINING GROUND.

THE NAVY'S ONLY SHIP TO SHORE THE ISLANDS ISOLATION ALSO LED TO UNIQUE PLANTS AND ANIMALS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE EARTH.

>> THERE ARE 17 SPECIES NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

THESE CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT SO WHEN A SEED OR SOMETHING FROM THE MAINLAND COMES OUT HERE AND ENCOUNTERS NEW CONDITIONS IT WILL EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING NEW.

THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.

>> Reporter: IN THE 1930s WHEN THE NAVY TOOK OVER THE ISLANDS, DEVASTATING THE PLANTS.

THE NAVY LAUNCHED A PROGRAM AND BY THE EARLY 90s THEY WERE GONE.

THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE AND SEVERAL PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES FOUND THEMSELVES THREATENED OR ENDANGERED.

THE ISLAND HAS BEEN RECOVERING EVER SINCE.

TOGETHER WITH THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BEGAN A DECADE- LONG PROGRAM TO RECOVER THOSE SPECIES.

THE ISLAND WAS REMOVED FROM PROTECTIVE STATUS IN 2006 AND OUT FOR PLANT SPECIES AND ONE BIRD SPECIES ARE BEING MOVED.

>> ONLY 10 PLANS HAVE EVER BEEN DELISTED DUE TO RECOVERY.

>> Reporter: THE SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND WHAT THEY SPARROW, IS ALSO BEING REMOVED FROM PROTECTIVE STATUS.

>> THE ONLY WAY THAT PLANT SURVIVED WAS EXISTING ON EXTREME CLIFF BASINS LIKE YOU SEE BEHIND ME.

THESE EXTREME CLIFF BASINS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE BY THE GOAT BECAUSE THEY ATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS NOT THERE.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY THE RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES SHOWS THAT WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT A HABITAT CAN WITHSTAND ACTIVITY INCLUDING -- >> THERE ARE PROTECTED SPECIES WITHIN A SHORT AREA.

>> Reporter: WORKING FOR THE NAVY, SAYING IT WILL BE COUNTERINTUITIVE TO SHOE AND ENDANGERED HABITAT THE SPECIES IS DOING WELL.

>> THE SPECIES THRIVE IN THIS AREA.

THINGS THAT ACTUALLY TARGET AND HIT THE ISLAND WAS RELATIVELY SMALL.

9% OF THE ISLAND.

THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA BEHIND ME IS A LARGE BUFFER.

>> Reporter: THE BUFFER ZONE ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND IS HOME TO THE NOW SPARROW.

AREAS IN THE DIRECT LINE OF FIRE FROM SHIPS SHOW SIGN OF WILDLIFE.

>> WE HAVE FOXES, SPARROWS, MOVING IN AND OUT OF THOSE AREAS AND UTILIZING THEM SO SLOWLY.

>> Reporter: WILL ONE DAY NAVY SCIENTISTS SAY THEIR EFFORTS WILL PREVENT IT FROM BEING RELISTED.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS .

>>> THIS WEEKEND SOME OF THE BEST GOLFERS ARE COMPETING AT THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN AT TORREY PINES.

MY RESUME GOT A LOOK AT ONE OF THE PRIZES.

>> Reporter: CRAIG HOLLINGSWORTH HAS BEEN SHAPING SURFBOARDS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

SINCE 2011 SHAVED ONE OF THE MOST FUNCTIONAL TROPHIES IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

>> IS A NEAT IDEA AND IT WAS FUN.

IT IS NICE TO DO THESE TROPHY BOARDS.

>> Reporter: THE WINNER RECEIVES A CUSTOM LONGBOARD BY HANSEN SURFBOARDS IN ENCINITAS.

>> GETTING AN ACTUAL SURFBOARD FOR YOUR TROPHY , IT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> Reporter: THE CENTURY CLUB IS A 5013C THAT OPERATES THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN AND THEY WANTED TO BRAND THE TOURNAMENT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

ONE OF THE CLUBS MEMBERS APPROACHED HANSEN SURFBOARDS FOR HELP.

>> ONE OF OUR IDEAS IS HAVING A UNIQUE TROPHY FOR THE WINNER .

WOULD YOU GUYS BE INTERESTED IN BUILDING A SURFBOARD?

OF COURSE WE SAID THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

>> Reporter: JOHN RAUM WON THE PGA TOUR BACK IN 2017.

>> WHAT IS THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MAKE ME FEEL SUCH AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.

I THINK IT IS REALLY SPECIAL TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: HANSEN SURFBOARDS HAS BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR 62 YEARS.

>> IS A FAMILY BUSINESS .

IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE ONE OF OUR BOARDS GIVEN TO THE WINNER.

OUR FAMILY, MY FATHER, MYSELF, MY BROTHER, WE ALL PLAYED QUITE A BIT OF GOLF.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GAME.

IT IS A GOOD FIT.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR'S WINNER ALSO BY HIS FIRST PGA TOUR WIN AT THE FARMERS AND SAYS HE IS IN THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ANOTHER SURFBOARD TROPHY.

>> I HAVE IT IN A GREAT SPOT IN MY POOL HOUSE BACK IN GEORGIA.

HAS BROUGHT BACKS OUT ANYTIME I HAVE BROUGHT ANYBODY OVER.

>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THE SHIP OF THE SURFBOARD CAN BE REPLICATED, ONLY THE WINNERS OF THE TOURNAMENT GET A TROPHY.

SAN DIEGO LOCALS WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO HIS COLLECTION.

>> IT WOULD BE THE CHERRY ON TOP.

AND GETTING A HOMEMADE PRIZE.

>> Reporter: THIS SURFBOARD SHOWCASES LOGOS OF THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN , THE CENTURY CLUB AND OF COURSE HANSEN SURFBOARDS.

>> SURFING IS SUCH A FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AND SO IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

TORREY PINES HAS SOME OF THE BEST WAVES RIGHT BELOW.

>> A LOT OF THE BEST BOARDS IN THE WORLD ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN OUR TOWN.

IT IS NOT CALLED SURF CITY BUT IT KIND OF IS.

>> Reporter: THE WINNER HAS TAKEN THEIR TROPHY OUT ON THE WATER.

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS NEWS , I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.