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Brawley-Westmorland-Calipatria
(North Imperial Phase 1) CSC
Overview
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Selection year: 2023
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Selected for: Community Air Monitoring Plan and Community Emissions Reduction Program
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Air District: Imperial County Air Pollution Control District
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CARB Community Lead Contact: Andrea Juarez
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The proposed North End Phase 1 Community, which includes the cities of Westmorland, Brawley, and Calipatria, is within the jurisdiction of the Imperial County APCD and is located in the north end of Imperial County. The areas likely to be included in the proposed North End Phase 1 Community of Imperial County span approximately 580 square miles. A majority of the community area is agricultural land use, accounting for over 90 percent of the proposed community area.
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This community has an approximate population of 38,000 and includes about 18 schools, 14 childcare facilities, and 11 hospitals or clinics which are sensitive receptors to air pollution.13 35 The proposed community area covers Westmorland, Calipatria, and Brawley and is located southeast of the Salton Sea. The City of Brawley is located in the Colorado Desert and Lower Colorado River Valley Region 26 miles north from the US-Mexico border and about 15 miles southeast from the Salton Sea. Westmorland is bisected by Highway 86, a four-lane expressway connecting Coachella Valley and Interstate 10. Westmorland is 31 miles north of the US-Mexico border and 6 miles south of the Salton Sea. Calipatria is 8 miles southeast of the Salton Sea and 30 miles from the US-Mexico Border.
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The Imperial County APCD nomination letter outlines priority air quality concerns associated with transportation corridors, major goods movements, industry, and the Salton Sea. Agricultural burning and equipment use, off roading, fugitive dust from unpaved roads and heavy-duty truck traffic and idling are some issues highlighted in the nomination.
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Most of the census tracts that make up this proposed community are considered disadvantaged per SB 53536 and low-income per AB 1550, the overall CES score of the census tracts that make up the North Phase 1 Community is at the 91st percentile. Table 5 also shows exceedingly high CES scores at the 99th and 92nd percentiles, for asthma and cardiovascular disease respectively. Residents also face significant health challenges for asthma, cardiovascular disease. Residents also face significant economic challenges as reflected by the poverty and unemployment scores of 98th and 100th percentile, respectively.
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Community Boundary
Imperial County AB 617 North-Imperial Steering Committee Request for Applications
​Climate change legislation, Assembly Bill 617, was passed in the summer of 2017 to improve air quality in California while reducing emissions, specifically in disadvantaged communities highly exposed to air pollution hotspots and most vulnerable to public health risks attributed to poor air quality. Through proper implementation, California is setting the model by devising a coordinated effort in reducing emissions through community informed action and air district engagement. In doing so, the following goals must be met: 1) Development of community air monitoring technology and 2) emissions reductions programs.
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The development and establishment of Community Air Monitoring Networks is essential to the success of AB 617 implementation. The purpose of these air monitoring networks is to measure particulate matter and toxic air contaminants. These networks present the opportunity for community involved action and citizen science to lead and will serve as the model for the rest of the state to follow.
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AB 617 designates new actions to be completed by California’s air districts through the Community Air Protection Program and sets aside new resources for air districts to achieve the legislatures goal’s. The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District is seeking applicants to become members of the North-Imperial Steering Committee which will:
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Voice concerns and inform regulators of problem areas within the community that need to be addressed
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Participate in engaging the public at large about efforts of community air monitoring and emissions reductions
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Provide input to assist in identifying possible emission reduction strategies and projects
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Assist in defining metrics to track progress.
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Qualifications for steering committee members:
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Reside, work, or own business within the North-Imperial community (Brawley-Westmorland-Calipatria), as defined by the Community Air Protection (CAP) Program(s) and CAP Blueprint
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Individual, Community-Based Organization, affected sources, or local government bodies
Community members interested in participating in the AB 617 North-Imperial Steering Committee are encouraged to complete and return the application below no later than close of business (5:00pm) on Wednesday October 29, 2025 via email or submit a physical copy to ICAPCD:​
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Adriana Carrillo
Special Projects Coordinator II
150 South Ninth Street
El Centro, CA 92243
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If you have questions about the process, please e-mail adrianacarrillo@co.imperial.ca.us or call 442-265-1800. The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District will provide details about the selection process and upcoming meetings. Applications can be found at https://www.icab617community.org/north-end-committee . All interested who are not chosen to be part of the AB 617 Steering Committee are highly encouraged to participate and attend all public meetings.