Contested Data: A Place-Based Exploration of Two Decades of Citizen Science in California's Southern San Joaquin Valley

This project investigates the history of community efforts to validate local health and environmental concerns to third parties using data collection in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin Valley is arguably a... [ view full abstract ]

This project investigates the history of community efforts to validate local health and environmental concerns to third parties using data collection in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin Valley is arguably a completely industrialized rural region, serving as the produce basket to the nation and housing over 80% of the state’s oil and gas extraction. Additional land uses include: the nation’s most productive dairy operations, two of the state’s largest hazardous waste dumps and open-air biosolid land application (i.e. sewage sludge) from urban areas such as Los Angeles. Using semi-structured interviews and participant observation, this project explores nine unique cases of community-based data collection tied to local health and environmental concerns around pesticide exposure, unconventional oil and gas extraction, and toxic waste dumps. For decades, communities and non-profits have undertaken citizen science data collection in the Valley, deploying strategies that include: bucket brigade air monitors, summa canister air monitors, pesticide drift catchers, and health surveys. Interviews were conducted with community leaders, environmental justice groups and larger national environmental organizations regarding their experiences collecting health and environmental monitoring data in the San Joaquin Valley. Results indicate that community-based data collection has generated a range of results across industries monitored, tools deployed and monitoring timeframes. It appears as though accident-based community monitoring across this region can build networks of shared knowledge and opportunities for collective action targeting local industries and state agencies. However, community generated data in the Valley has historically faced significant opposition and criticism from local government agencies and industries. Further research will explore the relationship between data collection and political organizing in achieving community goals of pollution reduction.