Farmers, ag professionals and students were among the thousands of visitors who stopped by the District’s booth at the 2025 World Ag Expo in Tulare last month.

During the three-day annual event, District staff engaged with attendees, answering questions about grant programs and distributing brochures and handouts about ag-related programs, air quality activity booklets, calendars, and more.

Since 2018, the District has been implementing the Community Air Protection Program under California’s Assembly Bill 617 (AB 617), an initiative designed to improve air quality in underserved communities through targeted, community-led strategies. Working closely with the four selected Valley communities of Shafter, South Central Fresno, Stockton, and Arvin/Lamont, the District has developed a set of clean air measures as a part of each area's Community Emissions Reduction Program (CERP). One common focus area in each CERP is an effort to incentivize the development of urban greening and vegetative barrier projects, with the goal of reducing pollution exposure in these communities. These projects aim to plant trees and shrubs along roadways and near sensitive receptors, such as schools, daycares and nursing facilities, to filter air pollutants, lower temperatures, and improve overall air quality. 

Significant progress has been made in Shafter and South Central Fresno, where urban greening and vegetative barrier projects are already being implemented. In 2024, the District partnered with the City of Shafter to plant 12 large box trees in Veterans Park, with maintenance provided by the Tree Foundation of Kern. Additionally, the District worked with the Wonderful Company to install vegetative barriers along Lerdo Highway, Burbank Street, and 7th Standard Road in Shafter, with additional vegetative barrier project partnerships under review.

In South Central Fresno, Tree Fresno and volunteers planted 59 young trees at Computech Middle School in May 2024. Tree Fresno, in collaboration with
OK Produce and the Central California Environmental Justice Network, has engaged commercial property owners to encourage participation in local tree planting initiatives. A community tree-planting event is planned for March 29, 2025, near Hidalgo Elementary School, demonstrating ongoing efforts to green the community and reduce air pollution.

Looking ahead, Stockton and Arvin/Lamont are preparing to launch similar initiatives. In Stockton, tree planting for urban greening projects will begin this year, focusing on neighborhoods south of Harding and areas near Victory Park, while vegetative barriers will be installed along key roadways like I-5. Meanwhile, Arvin/Lamont has ranked vegetative barriers as a top priority, recently closing a Request for Proposal to select an organization to implement these projects. The District is currently reviewing applications and will present it to the Arvin/Lamont community soon. As these projects take shape, they will contribute to cleaner air, reduced heat, and improved living conditions for residents in these communities.

The next time wildfire smoke overwhelms a neighborhood, Valley residents can find some reprieve at Clean Air Centers funded and supported by the Valley Air District and California Air Resources Board.

Clean Air Centers are facilities equipped with high-efficiency air filtration system. The centers are located throughout the San Joaquin Valley and are open to the public. The facilities can be community centers, libraries and senior centers.

In addition, residents can take steps to prepare their homes now, such as installing a high-efficiency filter with a MERV 13 rating or higher, or setting up a designated room with a room air purifier to ensure access to clean, filtered air.  

To find Clean Air Center locations in the Valley, click on this map. For more details about the program, visit the Clean Air Centers webpage. If you’re interested in becoming a Clean Air Center site, get started here.