Welcome to the Mendocino County, CA Air Quality Section of the ADC Website

One of the major concerns for those of us who live in Mendocino County is the quality of our air throughout the entire year.  There are certain times of the year when the air quality here is worse during the late fall, winter, and early spring months.  This is when Backyard and Agriculture Burning is Permitted by the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District and the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.

Instead of finding alternatives to Agriculture and Backyard burning so that our air quality is improved during  these time periods, when atmospheric inversions fog, and man-made clouds cover our skies trapping pollutants, our elected officials have decided to ignore the health of the community in order to cater to a few special interests. 

The ADC is placing online health data, photographs, and other information about the air qualilty impacts of the burning issues facing everyone in Mendocino County, especially in the Ukiah Valley which stretches from South of Willits to Hopland. 

We have many alternatives which could be implemented in Mendocino County to reduce the health impacts of our polluted air. 

1)  Backyard burning could be banned in favor of using green waste disposal units. 

2)  Agriculture burning could be almost totally eliminated by requring the chipping of all clippings.

3)  There could be restrictions on the timing of forest land burning, and

4)  Requiring the chipping of brush and trees from land clearing projects. 

5)  Mendocino County is already phasing out fireplaces and requiring strict pollution controls on new stoves purchased in the Nendocino County. 

6)  If there are fungus problems or disease, or other plants species that are infected they should be burned under the strict direction and oversight of the Mendocino County Agriculture Commissioner who would be required to certify the problem before burning.  In this case the Mendocino Air Quality Management District should enforce strict burning standards on times of burn, water supplies, and in making sure that no inversions are present in the Ukiah Valley during burn times.

In addition, the City of Ukiah could ban all backyard burning of leaves and other debris and require backyard disposal of waste in green waste bins.  The City could require phase out fireplaces without inserts and could require that new stoves have better pollution controls for smoke.

The question that we all need to answer is what quality of life do we want for our children and our families?  This is something that everyone must answer.  Are we willing to sacrifice our health and pay increasing costs for hospitals and doctors...or are we willing to find solutions to the air quality problems facing us today?

• Air Quality Index - A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health
• Air Quality Guide for Ozone
• Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
• Other AIRNow Publications
• Other AIRNow Publications - En Español
• AQI Calculator: AQI to Concentration
• AQI Calculator: Concentration to AQI
• Order any of our AIRNow publications from EPA's NSCEP

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health.Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country.

Tips on how to protect your health from reduced air quality from Wildfire Smoke-Agriculture & Backyard Burning and heat wave episode in Sacramento July 7-11, 2008.  Please note that these health tips are good for all California Residents that experience Smoke Conditions. (See Section on Special Masks.)