The Canal District of San Rafael, located in Marin County, is a vibrant and diverse community home to approximately 13,000 residents. This neighborhood is characterized by a mix of cultures and languages, with many households speaking Spanish or indigenous languages, and a significant proportion of young people and families.

The Canal District faces persistent air quality challenges, with elevated pollution burdens compared to the rest of Marin County. Major sources of pollution include heavy traffic on nearby highways, emissions from local industry, and increased wildfire smoke in recent years. These conditions contribute to higher rates of asthma and heart disease among residents, especially impacting children and older adults. The Canal District falls under the jurisdiction of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

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 March of 2025, residents, community organizations, and project partners gathered to discuss these ongoing air quality concerns and to launch a new phase of community air monitoring.