South Madera, located in California’s Central Valley within the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, includes the rural and mostly Hispanic communities of La Vina, Parkwood, Parksdale, Borden, Italian Swiss Colony, Irrigose, and Ripperdan.
South Madera faces some of the nation’s most severe air pollution, ranking among the worst for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone due to agricultural practices, pesticide use, field burning, dust, and nearby industrial activities. These pollution sources contribute to high rates of asthma, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and low birth weight-disproportionately affecting children, the elderly, and low-income families. While local organizations and air district efforts have brought some improvements, ongoing monitoring is needed to discuss persistent health risks.
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 2025, South Madera residents and stakeholders met to discuss these urgent air quality concerns and explore solutions for a healthier, more equitable future.
