Public Health

Map of nitrate contamination on Central Coast accompanied with caption that reads "Nitrate contamination is higher in predominantly Latinx and low-income communities across California’s Central Coast. Dots shaded darker purple indicate higher nitrate concentrations; Blue polygons show increased % population is Hispanic or Latinx; Red polygons show increased percentage of residents living in poverty. Credit: Amanda Cheng, "A Fight for Clean Water in the Central Coast" story map."

June 22, 2026

Environmental Justice Advocates Deliver Scientific Review Linking Nitrate Contamination to Cancer and Economic Hardship on Low-income Families, Urging State Water Board to Set Fertilizer Limits

Salinas, CA — Recently, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (“CRLA”) and a coalition of environmental justice leaders and advocates (“the Coalition”) delivered a scientific literature review to the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board”) on the health and economic risks of nitrate-contaminated drinking water for communities across California. The groups are urging the State Water Board to act quickly and require Regional Water Boards to adopt enforceable limits on fertilizer to address the growing public health crisis.

logos of California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. and First Amendment Coalition

November 3, 2025

Advocates Sue CA Department of Food and Agriculture for Withholding Bird Flu Dairy Quarantine Records

Despite Governor’s emergency declaration, CDFA denies the public critical information about spread of virus.

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