Impact of the Drought in the San Joaquin Valley of California

Authors focus on the "geographic core" of farming, the San Joaquin Valley in California, and analyzes how drought impacts the area's agriculture, economy, public health and more. San Joaquin Valley includes eight counties: Fresno, Kern, King, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare.

The report uses 2011, 2012 and 2013 California Health Interview Survey data on San Joaquin Valley adults and children from the Center's California Health Profiles on food insecurity, serious psychological distress, rate of uninsurance, self-reported fair or poor health, current asthma and more to illustrate the economic, psychological and physical health impacts on the area's residents.   Authors found that drought deals a disproportionately heavy blow to the region and has a wide-ranging impact. Public health impacts include poorer levels of air quality, increasing incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma, higher levels of airborne toxins and more.

 

Publication Authors:

• Lynnette Zelezny
• et al