Environment and Geography
The environment affects and is affected by a number of choices people and communities make that range from how to live, how to get to work, how to purchase goods and services, and where to build homes to mention just a few. Environmental quality directly affects the health and well-being of all residents and the ecosystem. For instance, energy consumption impacts the environment through the emission of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants from fossil fuel combustion.
2018 NSJV Review
Data for this indicator was obtained from the California Air Resources Control Board, California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality.
Land converted to urban use
| Area | 2004-2006 | 2010-2012 | 2014-2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | 1,959 | 437 | 2,142 |
| Stanislaus | 1,765 | 369 | 1,481 |
| San Joaquin | 4,497 | 2,295 | 1,806 |
| NSJV | 8,221 | 3,101 | 5,429 |
Data for this indicator was obtained from the California Department of Conservation, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. The data presented in this table shows the net farmland lost to urban development. That is, the amount of farmland converted to urban use, minus the amount of urban land converted to farmland.
Acres of protected open space
| Area | Protected open space | Open space per capita | Percent of total area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | 106,348 | 0.399 | 8.6% |
| San Joaquin | 18,288 | 0.026 | 2.1% |
| Stanislaus | 55,144 | 0.104 | 5.8% |
| NSJV | 179,780 | 0.119 | 5.8% |
Data for this indicator was obtained from the California Protected Areas Database, and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The acreage of open space obtained from the California Protected Areas Database for each county was divided by the population obtained from the ACS to arrive at open space per capita.