The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District will hold a public meeting Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Mesa Middle School, 2555 Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande, to share results of an air-monitoring study that assessed the neighborhood impacts of the windblown dust from the Oceano Dunes during high winds.

The district started the monitoring project in the spring of 2012 to measure the extent of the dust plume and its impact on Nipomo and Oceano. APCD staff will discuss the results of the project, including changes to air quality forecasting maps in the region to provide the community with tools to stay informed on the air quality in their region.

The study was conducted in March, April and May to capture the season with the highest winds and prevalence of dust episodes. More than 20 air quality monitors were deployed throughout the Nipomo Mesa and Oceano to better define the path, extent and airborne particulate concentration of the dust plume.

The study focused on two primary impact areas in the South County: the Nipomo Mesa neighborhoods directly downwind of the dunes, and the Oceano neighborhoods adjacent to Pier Avenue and the beach.