A new report by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association says air quality has improved significantly in the valley over the past two decades.

Jamie Holt with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District says major strides have been made.

“We’ve seen an 80 percent reduction in the emissions that contribute to both our particulate problem in the winter, and our o-zone problem in the summer,” she said.

The report says the drought is impacting air quality, citing increased pumping of groundwater with diesel engines, wildfires, and the amount of farmland that’s going unplanted because of water restrictions.

– Anthony Pollreisz