Chiriaco Summit is a small, unincorporated community in Riverside County, located along Interstate 10 between the Coachella Valley and Blythe, and within the South Coast Air Quality Management District. With an estimated population of 70 to 100 residents, the community is primarily English and Spanish speaking and consists of a cluster of homes and businesses serving travelers and truckers. The area’s main air pollution concerns stem from heavy freeway traffic, and wind-blown desert dust, with limited data available for localized pollution levels. Health data from the broader region indicate elevated rates of asthma and moderate maternal health burdens, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and access to care.

The district has teamed up with Aclima and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to launch a community air monitoring project guiding future actions as a part of SMMI. Using Aclima’s advanced sensors, the project collects detailed, block-by-block data on air quality throughout the community. This provides residents with clear information about local pollution and helps guide actions to improve air quality, focusing on the areas and people most affected.

In April of 2025, Chiriaco Summit residents and stakeholders met to discuss these air quality challenges and consider solutions for this unique desert community.