Dust from the dunes: What you need to know about air quality & health on the Nipomo Mesa
A plume of dust wafts across the Nipomo Mesa when strong winds blow, carrying tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs of the people who live, work and go to school there. While sand blows naturally in the dunes, there’s evidence the dust is increased by human activity on the nearby Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
We investigated the issue. Here’s what we found.
Do you live on the Mesa? Here’s what you need to know
We’ll outline the health risk in our first story: Find out what we know about air quality on the Nipomo Mesa, and the best ways to protect yourself and your family from the health risks of dirty air. Read more here »»
You ask, we answer: What are the health risks of air quality on the Mesa?
We’ve heard a lot of questions about what bad air quality means for the health of residents who live there. We are committed to finding answers and sharing them here. Find the questions — and answers — here »»
Bad air forces people inside in this coastal California town. Is it a crisis or exaggeration?
What’s it like on the Nipomo Mesa? We heard from more than 300 residents through online questionnaires, phone interviews and face-to-face conversations on front porches and in front of local schools. Here’s what we learned. Read more here »»
How pollution from a California State Park is putting a coastal town’s health at risk
The California Department of Parks and Recreation has known for decades that off-road vehicle activity at its park on the Oceano Dunes contributes to a plume of dust that’s a health risk to downwind communities.
Yet the agency has fought enforcement of clean air rules, failed to meet regulators’ requirements and, in an apparent effort to dodge responsibility, has looked for other factors to blame for poor air quality. Read more here »»
Director of State Parks commits to closing portion of Oceano Dunes to vehicles by end of year
At an Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board hearing, the director of State Parks committed to closing a part of the Oceano Dunes SVRA that is most dust missive, and agreed to an updated abatement order. The action came days after The Tribune published our report on public health in downwind communities. Read more here »»
California is spending $437K on a ‘wild goose chase’ study. Is a state scientist to blame?
The Tribune learned through a response to our Public Records Act request that State Parks planned to spend nearly half-a-million-dollars to search for another cause of particulate matter. Read more here »»
Monica Vaughan reported this project with the University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Health Journalism 2019 California Fellowship with engagement support from the Center’s interim engagement editor, Danielle Fox.
This story was originally published September 17, 2019 at 2:16 PM.
