Rio Vista Residents Talk Health and Air Quality
Community meeting about air pollution in Rio Vista. Photo: Willa Gruver
On December 11, 2025, I joined other members of my Rio Vista community for an air quality meeting hosted by Sustainable Solano at the local public library. The organization sought to create an opportunity for residents to learn more about how local pollution sources impact the air they breathe. About 20 people attended the meeting.
Willa Gruver of Sustainable Solano was our presenter for the night, and shared information about the effects of poor air quality on community health. Kevin Olp and Patrick Brecht attended from the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Community Air Protection. They talked about pollution sources such as gas wells and traffic, answered a few audience questions, and shared ways residents can stay informed and involved.
We also heard about Rio Vista’s biggest vulnerabilities, as well as the priority actions that were identified by community leaders during an October 2025 Community Resilience Building Workshop. People in the room offered feedback on these priority actions and brainstormed others, such as improved access to transit options such as BART, efficient recycling centers, and more walkable roads. Gruver put together an incredible slideshow for the meeting. As an intern attending the meeting, I learned a lot about pollution, resilience centers, and even self-driving cars.
Gas well in Rio Vista. Photo: Willa Gruver
I asked some of the folks I knew, including my siblings and parents and some other attendees, for their takeaways.
“I learned about gas wells and how important they are to our community because they provide energy that people rely on, like heating, cooking, and electricity,” said my brother Alex Ramirez. He added that he would “definitely go to another meeting like this.”
Gavin Haley said. “What piqued my interest was learning about the biggest sources of pollution and how not a lot’s being done to prevent it.” Like others, he showed an interest in staying involved with local environmental discussions.
For my father, Jesus Ramirez, the meeting deepened his understanding of how widespread environmental concerns are in the area. He was especially struck by information about the excessive number of gas wells near Rio Vista and hoped to begin monitoring air quality himself. “I’m very interested in acquiring a monitor for PM2.5,” he explained, referring to fine particulate matter that can pose serious health risks. He emphasized the importance of open discussion, saying, “Talking is the best way to understand this complex issue.”
My sister, Azul Ramirez expressed mixed feelings about what she’d heard. “I learned that the gas wells were surrounding our town,” she said, noting how surprising it was to realize how close pollution sources are located to residential areas. While she appreciated the information, she shared that she wouldn’t necessarily go to another meeting.
According to Gruver, these community perspectives will be key in taking the next step toward cleaner air in the county. Sustainable Solano is planning a countywide Air Quality Summit in 2026 and the feedback offered by community members during this meeting will help to inform the programming.
Hearing community members share their experiences and learning more about the data and solutions being discussed made the issue feel both real and solvable. I left the meeting excited and hopeful, knowing that even small actions and conversations can lead to a meaningful change.
