New Eastern Sierra Air Quality Partnership Is a Breath of Fresh Air

For immediate Release—June 3, 2026, Bishop, California. A new state and local air quality project has launched in time for wildfire and smoke season this year. The project kicked off with an Earth Day weekend distribution of 33 free portable air cleaners to community members wanting to protect their health from smoke and dust.

“The Air District is excited to support efforts to improve community preparedness and help people protect their health from the harmful impacts of air pollution,” said Kim Mitchell, a data analyst with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District.

“I appreciate that this project both informs and equips people to take steps to protect their health. Outdoor air quality in the Owens Valley is usually good, but when there is a smoke event or dust storm, it can be terrible,” said Mitchell.

“We encourage community members to sign up for the Air District’s smoke and dust health advisories, so that they are notified when the air quality is bad. These notifications can help people take steps to protect their health, such as reducing physical activity and ensuring that their air cleaners are turned on,” said Mitchell.

“Members of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley say that smoke and dust affect families’ health more as our valley faces hotter, drier conditions that cause more frequent wildfires and more fugitive dust,” said Tribal Air Program Coordinator, Cindy Duriscoe.

“I am looking forward to having more widespread Tribal member participation in project activities to share messages on how to protect their health, including signing up and using Air District smoke and dust health advisories,” said Duriscoe.

Addressing the mental health impacts of wildfire smoke, Big Pine Tribal Member Helen Spratt said, “You tried everything and nothing works. And it just seemed like it just keeps hurting, and you’re aching and you’re trying to get away from it, and you just can’t because it’s out, out in the environment around you.”

Members of the partnership presented the project to the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District Board in March. Board members said they appreciated the project and said they hoped air cleaners would be distributed equitably.

The Eastern Sierra Air, Information and Resilience (ES-AIR) Partnership hosted an information table at Tribal Earth Day celebrations in Lone Pine and Bishop, attended a “Loteria” game night for Spanish-speaking residents in Mammoth Lakes, and met with Tribal and community groups in the Owens Valley.

Staying indoors with windows and doors closed, reducing activity and filtering indoor air are the best ways to protect yourself and others against breathing the harmful particles present in smoke and dust. It is especially important to protect the health of children, older adults, pregnant people, those with health conditions and outdoor workers who are often exposed to more smoke and dust.

The ES-AIR partnership is comprised of local Tribes, the California Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Investigations Branch, the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, and local health departments from Alpine, Inyo and Mono counties.

Distributing a limited number of air cleaners through Tribal and community partners is a primary partnership activity. The collaboration also includes health education on air pollution and climate change and some tailored communications projects for local audiences as well.

The ES-AIR Partnership will share information on air quality and ways to protect your health during Inyo County HHS–Public Health & Prevention’s family-focused LIFE Night on June 11, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 1360 N. Main Street in Bishop.

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