SJVAPCD releases Annual Report to the Community

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has just released its Annual Report to the Community and it is full of encouraging news to residents of the Valley. According to the report, the San Joaquin Valley showed record clean air improvements, marking 2025 as the cleanest year on record for numerous air quality parameters.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

For the first time, every air monitoring site in the District recorded PM2.5 readings below the federal 24-hour standard. Additionally, the District had the lowest number of exceedances of the ozone standard on record. 

As a result of the clean air efforts of the District, residents, businesses, public agencies, farmers, and community organizations, clean air improvements have resulted in more "Good" air quality days and a record low of only 5 "Unhealthy" days across all of the District's counties. As a point of reference, it was only ten years ago that the District experienced over 100 "Unhealthy" days and 20 years ago that the number exceeded 100 "Unhealthy" days - a remarkable improvement of the District's air quality.

According to Samir Sheikh, the District's Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO), "These improvements bring the Valley closer than ever to attaining the remaining federal health-based standards and represents real improvements in the air we breathe and tangible health benefits for the communities we serve."

Free printed copies can be ordered by emailing public.education@valleyair.org or calling (559) 230-6000.

EcoFest Encinitas is scheduled for June 28, 2026

Folks in Southern California and the San Diego area may want to head to Encinitas Community Park on June 28 for the annual EcoFest Encinitas, a free-to-attend, community focused environmental fair to support sustainability and local, eco-friendly businesses.

Featuring live music, more than 50 environmental vendors, local artists, a beer garden, and many educational activities for adults and children, this annual event has been a main attraction for the northern San Diego County environmental community since 2005.

The event still has openings for volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors. If you are interested in that, click on the following links:

Volunteer Sign-up

Sponsorship Packages

Exhibitor Information

Today is Earth Day. Here is a list of events throughout California.

Our apologies for not publishing this earlier, but, Earth Day is today and many of you may not be aware of some of the events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate it. 

Photo Credit: TheOriginalSoni

Although several communities have already had events prior to today (and some will continue to have events throughout the month, e.g., CSUB's Sustainability Symposium on Friday, April 24, below is a list of events throughout the state.

Please let us know in the comments below if any of the info is incorrect or if you know of other events that we may have missed!

California Earth Day Events for April 22, 2026:

• Earth Day Conversation on Creativity (San Francisco)
• Venue: 1 Hotel San Francisco, 8 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105.
• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
• Accuracy Note: This eco-chic hotel on the Embarcadero is the correct venue for Laura L. Rubin’s book launch.
• Earth Day Hike at Anthony Chabot (Castro Valley)
• Venue: Anthony Chabot Regional Park, 17930 Lake Chabot Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546.
• Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
• Accuracy Note: This is part of the East Bay Regional Park District’s official Earth Day programming.
• "Everyday is Earth Day!" Cleanup (San Jose)
• Venue: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 748 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95112.
• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Check-in starts at 8:30 AM at the "Trash Punx" tent).
• Accuracy Note: This event is held in the zoo's East Lot off the Story Road entrance.
• Earth Day Event: Fuller Park (Napa)
• Venue: Napa Bookmine, 1625 2nd St, Napa, CA 94559.
• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
• Accuracy Note: While the book is about Fuller Park, the event itself is hosted at the bookstore.
• Morro Bay Earth Day Cleanup (Morro Bay)
• Venue: Centennial Parkway (near the giant chessboard), 101 Coleman Dr, Morro Bay, CA 93442.
• Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
• Accuracy Note: Hosted by the Morro Bay National Estuary Program; check-in is right on the Embarcadero.
• Bees and Seas Presentation (Dana Point)
• Venue: Hennessey's Tavern, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, CA 92629.
• Time: 6:30 PM.
• Accuracy Note: This presentation by Sea Drinks is confirmed for this location today.

• CSUB Earth Day Movie Night: The Lorax
• Venue: CSUB Student Union, 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311.
• Time: 5:00 PM tonight.

In addition, you might be interested in the visiting the following establishments and receive some discounts on purchases:

 

• Good Pantry Earth Day Special
  • Venue: Good Pantry, 1141 First St, Napa, CA 94559.
  • Offer: Enjoy 10% off any items filled in a reusable container today. 

• Apple Core Project
  • Venue: 612 Grace St, Bakersfield, CA 93305.
  • Details: They focus on local food distribution and community gardening in Old Town Kern.
• Active Culture
• Details: They are offering a 20% off coupon today for customers who bring in reusable items. 

The above information was developed with the assistance of Google's Gemini AI. Again, if any of the info is incorrect, let us know in the comments below.