Sustainability & Environmental Justice Research Symposium

Benchmarking Energy Management: Enhancing Sustainability at Santa Clara University
Nora McBride, Cati Tamez, Maya Bhattacharyya

In accordance with the Pope's encyclical Laudato Si’, Santa Clara University has committed itself to a Sustainability Action Plan. The school’s energy goal, which is to position Santa Clara toward becoming a climate-positive university, can be met through proper energy management. Our team completed comprehensive research on the energy management of North American universities, focusing on schools that are comparable to Santa Clara University. Many of these schools belong to the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, while others have recently received a Platinum STARS rating. Our data collection methodology involved a thorough investigation of each school's most recent STARS report and then a visit to the school’s website for further information. For schools of specific interest to us, we are conducting interviews with their sustainability/energy managers. We will use this data as a benchmark for how well Santa Clara University currently manages its energy, where it has the potential to expand and improve upon, and how it will do so moving forward. In addition to our benchmarking analysis, our team will be conducting energy audits on select SCU buildings around campus. By focusing on lighting and heating/cooling, our team will collect quantitative data to help the university’s energy management team identify areas for improved efficiency. This data gathered through benchmarking and energy audits will be shared with the SCU Sustainability and Energy teams to enhance the school’s energy systems. *energy audit and survey results will be included in the final presentation

Caltrain Discount Program Feasibility Study
James Alexander, James Carlson, Gabby Canola-Leach

Our project aims to assess the need for reduced Caltrain fares for Santa Clara University (SCU) students and faculty by analyzing sustainable transportation alternatives at other universities. We will conduct benchmarking research and interviews to develop a well-supported recommendation for SCU. We will collect data from our campus partner and conduct concept interviews and additional research. We will then analyze the data within the context of a tentative policy plan, leading to the finalization and delivery of recommendations in March.

Tracking for Change: Smart Solutions for Sustainable Harvests
Robby Cullen, Emma Yang, Sophia Harvey, Kate Rodman

This project aims to tackle food waste and promote sustainability by ensuring accessible, clean, and healthy food sources. It seeks to make use of untapped resources, such as campus fruit trees, and connect them with individuals in need or composting initiatives. This aligns with the team’s passion for sustainability and reducing food waste​.  The team’s background research and collaboration with the campus GLEAN team have established foundational knowledge about fruit tree utilization. Previous spreadsheets and data collection have provided a starting point, but this project seeks to enhance and modernize those efforts with better technology and processes​.

Sustainable Food Systems Fellowship Research Overview
Grace Falci, Isabelle Pink

This fellowship will analyze SCU Dining Services purchasing data through the standards and core values from The Real Food Challenge (RFC), a national non-profit dedicated to leveraging the power of colleges and universities to increase equity and sustainability in food systems. The Center for Sustainability, the Food System Fellows, and the faculty mentors at Santa Clara University will additionally be utilizing the Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform (SIMAP) climate emissions analysis for university food systems to investigate the carbon and nitrogen footprint of SCU’s food system.

Working Towards Food Justice at SCU: Addressing Student Basic Needs through Equitable Food Systems
Wanyu Xiang, Amelia Koenig

Food insecurity is a critical issue on college campuses, affecting over a third of students at public universities in California. Marginalized student populations, such as African American/Black, Latine, international, and first-generation college students, are disproportionately impacted. Our research team surveyed 2,700+ students and conducted 30 interviews from 2020 to 2024; 28% of student respondents reported experiencing food insecurity in Fall 2023. Housing insecurity affected 29.87% of students. Notably, first-generation students experience food insecurity at twice the rate of their peers. Food access is a fundamental human right, yet many students struggle to secure consistent, nutritious meals. This issue is not just about access, belonging, and achievement gaps—it is deeply tied to sustainability and environmental justice. Unsustainable food systems and climate change disproportionately harm low-income and marginalized communities, exacerbating food insecurity. Food justice prioritizes sustainable food systems with environmentally friendly practices and equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods. Initiatives such as expanding access to government assistance programs, redistributing unused meal points, and increasing affordable, sustainable food options on campuses are essential to creating a just food system. Addressing food insecurity through the lens of sustainability and environmental justice is key to fostering an inclusive and resilient campus community. By connecting food access to identity, values, and a sense of belonging, universities can empower students and ensure all have the resources they need to thrive. These efforts are critical for advancing both environmental and social equity, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to healthy, sustainable food.

Analyzing Climate Emissions and Commitments in Jesuit Higher Education 
Wanyu Xiang, Quin Doughty, Leanna Cameron

In the face of the climate crisis and widening equity gaps, universities have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainability transitions. Looking across higher education institutions, some public university systems have worked collectively to support drawdown processes, while few private colleges and universities have pursued individual efforts. The publication of Pope Francis' 2015 Laudato Si’ encyclical on care for humanity’s common home by recognizing the environmental consequences of human activity prompted the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) to form a Commission across all 27 institutions to assess current work and inspire collaborative action that responds to the “Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor.” As a team of undergraduate students, we conducted an initial assessment of existing climate commitments and emissions inventories to create a data dashboard. We focused on Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (energy purchase), and Scope 3 (indirect) emissions. We retrieved qualitative data from the Eco-Social Engagement Report, which includes four categories: institutional operations, academic affairs, community formation, and civic engagement. Although all institutions have sustainability initiatives, the extent of these efforts remains unclear, highlighting non-uniform and ambiguous climate efforts across the AJCU. Compared to the University of California, which openly commits to climate action, the AJCU lacks a common platform to share achievements and promote climate commitment accountability. For institutions missing information on climate commitments, we contacted sustainability coordinators to fill data gaps. This mixed-methods study will contribute to the understanding of sustainability initiatives and knowledge across the AJCU community.

Analyzing Solar Adoption and Social Vulnerability in the City of Santa Clara’s Residential Housing
Andréa Georgenes

Burning fossil fuels releases over 35 billion metric tons of CO₂ annually, driving climate change, intensifying extreme weather, and worsening air pollution. This reliance threatens ecosystems, public health, and global stability. In contrast, solar energy produces electricity without emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs), offering a sustainable, renewable path forward. The City of Santa Clara has committed to expanding photovoltaic (PV) solar energy adoption to reduce GHGs and transition to renewable energy. However, disparities in PV adoption persist, particularly among marginalized and lower-income communities. While previous research has focused on multi-family housing, this study addresses a critical gap by analyzing PV adoption in single-family homes. By overlaying solar permit application data with the city's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), this research identifies trends and disparities in PV installation, ultimately informing policy recommendations for Silicon Valley Power (SVP). This quantitative study utilized approximately 1,100 solar permit requests. The data were filtered to isolate single-family home applications, mapped using RStudio and ArcGIS, and cross-referenced with SVI data created from public domain census tract and block group data. Google Earth Pro was also used to validate solar installations. The analysis determined how electrification trends aligned with socioeconomic vulnerabilities and whether existing policies equitably supported solar adoption across different demographics. Findings provided insights into barriers preventing equitable access to solar energy and suggested targeted interventions to improve adoption in underrepresented communities. By addressing these disparities, the research supports Santa Clara’s Climate Action Plan and promotes environmental justice, ensuring that all residents benefit from clean energy solutions.

Mapping Resilience and Community Through Transformed Green Spaces in Santa Clara
Bianca Isabela "Bea" Ricafort

Green spaces, such as public parks, are often viewed as “sunk costs,” rarely providing tangible, namely fiscal, benefits. However, in the long run, they make an abundance of vital ecosystem services more widely available to citizens. This study analyzes Santa Clara’s social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities through a Green Space Social Vulnerability Index (GsSVI), which highlights high-risk areas and informs a Priority Index categorizing vulnerability from 1 (Most Vulnerable) to 5 (Least Vulnerable). This study consists of two parts: mapping and creating the GsSVI. To build the GsSVI, I’ll collect data on Silicon Valley Power Financial Rate Assistance Program (FRAP) participants, median income, rent burden (percentage of residents spending more than 50% of their income on rent), LiDAR shade, costs, flood risk, heat event temperatures, average distance to green space, and non-white population. By integrating social and environmental vulnerability metrics, I seek to create a holistic framework for resilience that centers on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. While I advocate for transforming high-vulnerability sites into green spaces, I hope my findings ultimately provide a reference point for future equity-centered planning and serve as a tool for communities to make self-determined land use choices.

Neighborhood Resilience Hubs: Redirecting power into the hands of communities
Yasmin Urzua-Gutierrez

The city of Santa Clara’s Climate Action Plan, strategy C1, is focused on improving community resilience. It states, under action C-1-1, “Support neighborhood-based organizations and businesses in the development of Neighborhood Resilience Hub Programs to prepare residents and respond to climate change. Identify suitable locations for resilience hubs, cooling centers, disaster assistance, and supplies” (City of Santa Clara, 61). While there is evidence of Neighborhood Resilience Hub Programs throughout California, even one as close as Gilroy, there are no programs in the city of Santa Clara that are committed to providing climate resiliency. The city of Santa Clara needs a Neighborhood Resilience Hub Program, especially dedicated to the most vulnerable persons affected by rising temperatures, food insecurity, and air pollution. In addition, the program should be grounded in equitable representation of the diverse makeup of communities by advocating for leaders that belong to historically marginalized groups.  The purpose of my study is to create a cost-benefit analysis of what it will take to build a neighborhood resilience program in Santa Clara. I plan to interview NRHs in the Bay Area and throughout California to determine the feasibility and benefits of these programs. The purpose of this cost-benefit analysis is to introduce neighborhood resilience programs in a new light, one that weighs its economic costs against its expected social benefits. The economic benefits are more clearly defined as reduced damages from climate events through community preparedness training and job creation through mitigation programs.

Exploring Marginalized Communities' Flood Risk Perceptions and Resilience: Insights from the 2023 Pajaro Levee Failure
Karina Martin

This research was conducted through the Environmental Ethics Fellowship in 2023-2024 in collaboration between the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, the Environmental Science and Studies Department, and the Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering Department. This interdisciplinary project explores the environmental justice, ethics, and engineering issues that culminated after the Pajaro levee failure that resulted in a disastrous flood. Pajaro is an unincorporated agricultural town that sits on the northern tip of Monterey County. In 2023, after an atmospheric river ripped through California, the Pajaro River Levee, which protected the town from flooding breached, flooding the town and causing more than 1500 people to evacuate and more than $300 million of damage.  This study aimed to explore community perceptions of flood risk while living near a vulnerable levee by collecting both qualitative data through interviews with Pajaro residents and quantitative data via geospatial analysis of community demographics. Through a GIS (Geographical Information System) analysis of FEMA National Flood Risk data, specifically the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), it was found that communities living in leveed areas are more likely to have higher levels of social vulnerability compared to communities residing in non-leveed areas. It was also found that those communities had lower levels of resiliency in response to natural disasters like flooding. The statistical analysis of the SVI and Community Resilience shows the need for improved risk perception analysis, mitigation strategies tailored to the community, and preparedness efforts.  The team also developed interview questions that could portray the experience of the community members of Pajaro before, during, and after the flood. This town is still recovering today and is sadly not a unique situation. Many communities like Pajaro, which have been historically underserved in terms of infrastructure and government aid, show how today’s issue of flood risk will affect the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society the most.

Agroecological Diversification, Gender, and Food Security in Nicaragua
Mia Ingram, Andrea Georgenes

This study explores how gender equity relates to agricultural practices. Past research has conveyed the importance of analyzing gender in agriculture, noting that agroecological approaches can positively influence household gender relations with implications for food and nutritional security. Women often face systemic barriers that limit their access to resources and decision-making. Addressing these challenges through agroecology can strengthen gender equity and food system resilience.  Evidence from past research suggests that when women are older, educated, and empowered decision-makers, agricultural practices improve. Despite these findings, there are still gaps in understanding how gendered patterns in land ownership, farm management, and market access shape agroecological systems and food security for farmers. Farm diversification offers benefits but may lead to women experiencing a disproportionate labor burden. An overarching question that framed this research was, how do gender roles and empowerment influence agroecological practices, labor division, and food and nutritional security outcomes? This mixed-methods study includes surveys and two focus groups conducted with smallholder coffee, cacao, and vegetable marketing cooperative members. Our survey had 187 households with two respondents, in total 374 individuals. We analyzed two focus groups: an all-female group of seven co-op members and a group of seven male participants. We correlate agroecology strategies and women's empowerment indexes with food security and compare gendered perspectives on labor burdens, integrating an analysis of surveys and focus groups. This synthesis further emphasizes the need to investigate women's roles in agroecology and highlights the importance of gender perspectives in future research and policy discussions.

How have the magnitude and frequency of extreme climatic events changed for smallholder communities in Nicaragua?
William Alexander

Smallholder farmers in northern Nicaragua communities are particularly vulnerable to shifts in precipitation expected under global warming. Their livelihoods depend on rain-fed agriculture, and communities that lack the resources to withstand extreme precipitation events, prolonged drought, or food shortages are scarce. To support community-based efforts towards climate resilience, our research group has collaborated with the local development organization CII-ASDENIC to build a climate forecasting app (‘NicaAgua’) for the communities ASDENIC serves. The app provides four functionalities, including short and medium-term climate forecasts based on the CHIRPS global data sets, weather data from a locally maintained station, alerts, and a climate comparison function. The CHIRPS semi-global data set incorporates local station data, but weather station data throughout Central America is sparse, and CHIRPS does not include the station maintained by CII-ASDENIC. To assess how well the CHIRPS data represents the experience on the ground, we extract the time series of CHIRPS precipitation and temperature data and the weather station data from CII-ASDENIC and compare means as well as magnitudes and frequencies of extreme events. We ask in what ways the midsummer drought, a weather pattern important for the local agricultural calendar, has changed in the communities as determined by the CHIRPS and the weather station data. Further, we investigate how extreme rainfall events, as defined by the rainfall classification system, changed over time for the communities we are working with in northern Nicaragua. Have they become more frequent? How has their magnitude changed over time? Our results build a foundation for dialogue with our community partners to build greater climate resilience.

Connecting local hydroclimatic trends to smallholders' experiences of climate change in Northern Nicaragua
Briana Guingona

Smallholder farmers in Central America are highly vulnerable to climate change, given their reliance on rainfed agriculture. Our research group has been working with an NGO and communities of farmers in a participatory action research partnership to understand the local effects of hydroclimatic changes and connect and compare them with the firsthand experiences of local communities. Our research asks how manifestations of climate change from global to local scale data are aligned with smallholder farmers’ experiences in Northern Nicaragua and what lessons can be learned to build greater climate resilience in the region and throughout Central America.  We are using several established, as well as community-informed metrics to analyze local hydroclimatic trends using CHIRPS, CHIRTS, and local weather station data. Additionally, we co-developed a survey to understand community responses to climatic shifts and extreme events, and community needs for information, mitigation, and adaptation strategies. Hydroclimatic trends indicated a longer dry period and greater variability in the occurrence of the mid-summer drought. Responses indicated several months of water insecurity, especially at the end of a prolonged dry season,  and a need for forecasts that include the timing of the rainy season, droughts, and extreme events. Moreover, when warned about a drought, farmers prepare by conserving and storing water, as well as adapting their plantings. In order to be better prepared, farmers expressed a need for more specific weather, climate, drought, and rain forecasts, and resources for a range of adaptation strategies.

Nitrate Concentrations Near Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are Affecting the Quality of Shallow Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley (California) 
Elyse Kenyon

CAFOs generate large amounts of liquid manure that are a major source of nitrate pollution in the shallow groundwater of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), California. Even though it has been established for decades that nitrate contamination is widespread in the domestic wells often serving historically marginalized communities, the connection between the proximity of CAFOs to high nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater has not been investigated. We utilized publicly available high-resolution satellite data to generate a CAFO GIS layer for the SJV through digitization. We then ask whether nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater vary with proximity to CAFOs. To this end, we extracted the locations and nitrate levels of shallow wells from the State Water Board’s GAMA database and CV-SALTS program for the 19 priority basins and the 2010-2024 time period. Spatial regression was performed to predict how nitrate contamination relates to the proximity of CAFOs. We used USGS groundwater elevation point data to map out large-scale aquifer elevation to effectively quantify the spread of contamination and model the extent of influence elevation and CAFOs have on high nitrate levels. Our findings represent the first comprehensive assessment of nitrate groundwater concentrations near CAFOs and how they vary with increasing distance. This work is highly relevant for processes and policies aimed at controlling nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater in the southern San Joaquin (such as CV-SALTS) and providing access to safe and sufficient water throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Assessing the Safety of Drinking Water with One Data Point? Domestic Well Users in the Central Valley (California) are at Risk of High Nitrate Exposure Through Limited Sampling Processes
Samantha Lei, Xiomara Garcia

Widespread and persistent groundwater contamination from agricultural chemicals and lower water levels are affecting at least 100,000 domestic well users in the Central Valley (CA). Nitrates predominantly originate from agricultural fertilizers and animal waste lagoons associated with Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Though the issue has been identified for decades and is currently being addressed through the CV-SALTS4 process, public databases (i.e., GAMA) do not contain sufficient nitrate well test results to assess how nitrate varies in space and time. In the CV-SALTS priority basins of Modesto and Turlock, only 4,214 domestic wells have been sampled since 2010, and none more than 4 times. This decreases opportunities for residents to qualify for free bottled water deliveries if their nitrate levels do not test above the MCL. To this end, we have created a free monthly well sampling program where samples are analyzed using the Hach Cadmium Reduction Method. We will discuss the implications of the observed nitrate variability on drinking water under CV-SALTS and beyond.

Water and Climate Justice Lab StoryMap
Gabrielle Henrich

California is the largest agricultural-producing state, but to support this industry, residents are forced to endure contaminated drinking water, polluted air, and nutrient-depleted soils. The Water and Climate Justice Lab at SCU has been studying the effects of industrial agriculture on water quality throughout California for years. My project specifically takes a mixed methods approach to understand both the compounding factors causing groundwater contamination as well as the impacts this contamination has on residents in agricultural communities. To explore the first question, the lab has used the Central Valley as a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the CV-Salts program, test the nitrate contamination in groundwater wells, and map out concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Through the process of groundwater sampling, we have visited 8-10 residents of the Central Valley monthly and gathered insights to their experiences with contaminated groundwater, local and regional government support, and the resources they rely on to guarantee safe drinking water. To compile this research and lived experiences, I have created a StoryMap to be used as an online resource for those impacted by groundwater contamination, researchers, advocates, and policymakers. The website displays the research students have been working on over the past two years, provides background context to the issue of groundwater contamination and industrial agriculture, and provides testimonials from some of the residents we visited regularly. Finally, I gathered a collection of all resources relevant to those impacted by groundwater contamination with the intention of creating an online hub of information. 

Identifying a spatial layer of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in California’s Central Valley to analyze and address widespread water and air pollution affecting historically marginalized communities
Stephanie Davis

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are high-density feedlots that release large quantities of nitrates into local waterways through livestock manure. Impaired waterways can ultimately contaminate groundwater, which poses health risks and water justice issues for disadvantaged communities (DACs) that may rely on local wells in the Central Valley, a region already experiencing a major water crisis. Currently, there are no existing comprehensive datasets that identify all CAFO locations throughout the Central Valley. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to gauge their true impacts on surrounding areas and examine how existing vulnerabilities experienced by DACs may be exacerbated through water contamination. This project created a spatial layer that identified CAFO locations, the presence of waste lagoons, potentially impaired water bodies, and associated well violations. We utilized high-resolution satellite imagery (MAXAR) in ArcGIS Pro and overlaid a grid of 4000 x 4000 pixel boxes to streamline our work. To locate CAFO sites, we consulted Google Maps and Google Earth and used local county and township websites to cross-reference and ascertain property boundaries and site names. In ArcGIS Pro, we manually digitized CAFO sites and built a table displaying all sites, notes on the potential likelihood for water contamination, as well as location in relation to disadvantaged communities. The creation of this spatial CAFO layer allows for the identification of areas of high vulnerability to shallow water and air pollution, potential intersections with priority health and environmental concerns and may contribute to future improvements in access to safe water and clean air. 

After the Flood: Ethical Dimensions of the Aftermath of the Pajaro Levee Failure
Mahi Shah, Hannah Hamawi

In the U.S., a wide network of levees protects acres of land from flooding during storms or other natural events. These levees are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who use a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate levee repairs by comparing maintenance costs to potential flood damage. Oftentimes, levees that support low-income and marginalized communities fall to the bottom of this list, and levees that protect more urban areas are more likely to be repaired quickly, causing levee overtopping to happen more frequently in low-income, often agricultural communities compared to overtopping in urban areas. This is a telling instance of a larger problem: the vulnerability of marginalized communities living behind levees at a time when climate change is intensifying precipitation and water flows.  In our research, we examine one such levee failure in March 2023 in Pajaro, Calif., which flooded the town of farmworkers who are still recovering over two years later. We investigate the consequences of Pajaro, with no form of town government, relying on the much larger Monterey County Board of Supervisors to disperse monetary aid received from the federal government for rebuilding and look into the community aid received by and from Pajaro residents in the aftermath of this crisis. We also examine the stability of the Pajaro levee itself before the flood and compare the 2023 failure to other levee failures and subsequent flooding in similar agricultural communities, finding common trends among variables such as height, length, materials, and overtopping occurrence.

How Can We Improve Levee Risk Assessments by Incorporating Community Identities and Social Vulnerabilities? A Case Study on the Community of Pajaro, California 
Dana Johnson

Levees are essential to U.S. water supply infrastructure as they contain flood waters and mitigate risk to nearby communities. With more frequent extreme precipitation events under climate change, there is a need for an updated approach to the risk assessment of levees. Many residing near levees are part of unincorporated communities experiencing high levels of financial and social vulnerability due to systemic disadvantages related to income and race. Because of these disparities, disaster relief funds are less readily available after levee breaches, and communities often struggle in recovery.   Current risk assessment methodologies often implicitly incorporate social vulnerability through demographic statistics. This study proposes to enhance this framework by combining publicly available data from the United States Census Bureau, National Levee Database, and National Structure Inventory with results from community-based research, specifically semi-structured interviews, to assess how community identities can further inform risk assessments. A simplified physically-based breach model will be used to perform a fragility analysis, estimating the probability of different events leading to a levee breach. The results from this analysis, combined with demographic and community interview data, will be used to formulate recommendations for enhancing risk assessments. These recommendations will focus on improving community and infrastructure preparedness and developing effective mitigation strategies. This approach aims to refine risk assessments for specific locations and produce more comprehensive fragility models. As a case study, the presented approach is applied to the levee in Pajaro, California, where a levee breach in March of 2023 led to catastrophic flooding.

Visualizing Impacts of Sustainability with AI
Mahisha Gunasekaran

Our work focuses on using AI to create digestible visualizations that help people better understand the impact of sustainability and waste management. By simplifying complex data, we aim to make environmental issues more accessible to a broader audience, fostering greater awareness and action. Our methodology combines AI-driven summarization with user-friendly visualization charts to highlight key insights related to environmental challenges, such as waste reduction resource management. This project aligns with the symposium themes of sustainability and environmental justice by promoting informed decision-making that is aligned with sustainability goals at the individual and community levels.

When Levees Fail: Environmental Justice and Disaster Resilience in Vulnerable Communities
Jessica Garofalo, Arden DiCicco

Levees are a crucial component of flood management in the United States, yet many are deteriorating, leaving vulnerable communities at heightened risk of disaster. This research investigates the impact of flood response strategies on marginalized populations living behind levees, focusing on the 2023 levee failure in Pajaro Valley and exploring ways to improve policies and practices for greater resilience. This study addresses the following research questions: How have various flood response strategies impacted vulnerable communities living behind levees in the United States? What key successes and ongoing challenges do these communities face in adapting to increased flood risks due to climate change? Additionally, it examines the perspectives of Pajaro Valley residents to determine which flood response measures have been effective, which have failed, and what strategies they believe should be continued or reformed to improve resilience. Existing studies highlight the disproportionate exposure of low-income and historically underserved communities to flood hazards due to systemic disinvestment and inadequate infrastructure maintenance. However, limited research has specifically examined the experiences of unincorporated communities like Pajaro in the context of levee failures and disaster recovery. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, incorporating policy analysis, GIS mapping, and community-based qualitative methods (including focus groups and interviews) to assess the effectiveness of flood response efforts and identify strategies for equitable resilience planning.

Tracing the River’s Story: Mapping Decades of Riparian Habitat Loss Along the Salinas River Sophia Harvey, Ava Pope, Briana Guingona, Luke Davidson

Riparian habitats are crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem health but have been significantly degraded along the Salinas River in California due to historical land use, urbanization, and climate change. This project aims to investigate how riparian areas along the Salinas River have changed in width and vegetative makeup since the 1930s, how they have been impacted by climate events and human activities, and which areas are most in need of conservation. Previous studies have highlighted the degradation of riparian areas in California, but there has been limited focus on long-term changes along the Salinas River. Our research uses historical aerial imagery, GIS tools, and NDVI analysis to map changes in riparian habitats over time and identify areas of interest. By integrating datasets on land use, climate events, and critical habitats, we pinpoint regions along the river that would benefit most from conservation efforts.

Impacts of Extreme Heat Events on Communities Across Modesto, CA
Andréa Georgenes, Andrew Edwardson, Billy Wagner, Ellie Fox

Extreme heat has the highest mortality rate out of any other weather-related event, contributing substantially to mortality and morbidity, particularly among individuals with limited resources for adaptation and mitigation, including disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat, which often exacerbates poor air quality and leads to serious health issues, including asthma and other respiratory problems. Climate models also predict temperatures of extreme heat events to increase significantly by the mid and late 21st century. During extreme heat events, air quality worsens as levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) rise, further endangering public health. This study partners with Valley Improvement Project, focusing on Modesto, California, a medium-sized city in California’s San Joaquin Valley, which is particularly vulnerable due to its demographic composition, including a large number of low-income residents, residents speaking English as a second language, and high poverty rates. To assess the impacts of extreme heat and air quality in Modesto, this research utilized PurpleAir sensors for real-time air quality monitoring, satellite thermal remote sensing data, climate projections to model future conditions, and other biophysical and socio-demographic variables. Our preliminary research shows that the disadvantaged community temperatures during an extreme heat event are 2.8 ℃ warmer than wealthier communities. 

Food Catering Co-op Market Feasibility Study
Maylin Pollack, Josue Hernandez-Perez, Gabrielle Canola-Leach, Sofia Perrone

This study looks at categorizing the market for a new co-op for a prepared food and catering business in East San Jose. Working with Veggielution, this study aims to understand the barriers for the co-op and institutional buyers when it comes to establishing a yearly contract. This co-op has the goal of providing locally sourced and culturally relevant food to the community and hoping to gain an anchor client within the area. Through the work, we hope to gain a better understanding of the market and provide information to Veggielution and the co-op as to how to successfully launch the business with the clientele they are looking for. To guide this research, we are answering the following questions: What market barriers do the East San Jose food worker co-op, MEHKOs, and cottage food producers face when selling their prepared food to institutional buyers? What previous successful practices have value-based purchasing programs used to help build relationships with institutional buyers? What resources do institutional buyers and co-op producers need to build a value-based contract, ensure fair pricing, and follow institutional standards? This study has utilized a mixed-method approach by conducting semi-structured interviews for qualitative as well as analyzing quantitative data from past surveys. We have conducted interviews with co-op members from both the new co-op and Veggielution’s existing co-op as well as potential institutions who may act as clients. While we are still finalizing coding these interviews, we are hoping to have a clear picture of what each party is looking for.

Collaborative Innovation for Food Justice in East San Jose: Developing a Food Systems Data Dashboard

Leonie Casper, Gabrielle Henrich, Ruby Mcbride

A high-functioning county-level food system reduces food waste, increases nutritious and culturally relevant food access, and supports local economic development. We worked with Veggielution Community Farm to conduct research to support food entrepreneurs and inform community members about Santa Clara County and East San Jose food systems. Using a participatory mixed methods approach, we researched food insecurity, the impacts of urban agriculture on community development, and the strategies to strengthen the regional food system. We prioritized four primary audiences  - (1) small-scale food entrepreneurs and cooperatives, (2) urban growers and farmers, (3) food advocates, and (4) policymakers and researchers. We held meetings with a board of relevant community stakeholders representing these audiences to understand what information would best meet the needs of audience groups.   Our team’s final deliverable was a Data Dashboard that allowed relevant stakeholders to access information about their local and regional food systems and access culturally relevant foods. This dashboard also compiled information and resources specific to food entrepreneurship in San Jose that were made more readily accessible through language translation. Finally, Santa Clara County (SCC) was held accountable for its progress on its Food System Workplan Goals since 2021. Stakeholder feedback was collected continuously throughout the development of the Data Dashboard to ensure the deliverable was meeting the needs of all relevant audiences. Based on stakeholder feedback, we found that beyond resources made accessible by a dashboard, further actions are necessary to address the myriad of economic and political barriers restricting food entrepreneurship growth in San Jose.

Participatory School Garden Design & Stakeholder Agency Assessment
Peter Godschalk, Sosna Araya, Quin Doughty, Zoe Hanshew

Where do California residents look to learn how to grow more sustainable gardens? In 2012, a group of public agencies (e.g., Silicon Valley Water and Master Composters) and non-profit organizations in Santa Clara County created the South Bay Green Gardens (SBGG) coalition to promote sustainable landscaping. The committee worked to streamline resources, events, and communication, emphasizing the impact of local actions on soil, water, energy, waste, and wildlife, over time expanding its mission to include climate action through its website. Our research team distributed a set of three surveys – to SBGG & the Santa Clara County Technical Advisory Committee, past workshop attendees, and website visitors – in order to collect comprehensive data. Using a mixed-methods assessment, the team conducted semi-structured surveys to assess community needs and website efficacy. Pomeroy Elementary – a Title I school – asked our capstone course to help them design a school garden. The project explored community needs for an inclusive and culturally relevant school garden and gathered feedback on SBGG’s resources through surveys. Our team used data collected through guardian and teacher surveys, participant observation, literature review, and visual analysis of student drawings to create a garden design.  This garden will be used as a case study for understanding both the resources and gaps on South Bay Green Garden’s website. This process will inform recommendations for improving SBGG’s offerings and identify ways to attract new members, support local school gardens, and further its mission to support sustainable practices across communities in the South Bay.

Water Quality and Environmental Justice: Assessing Agriculture Runoff and Riparian Habitat Loss along the Salinas River
Mia Ingram, Elyse Kenyon, Aidan Klein, Hanna Jung

The Salinas River valley is one of the most productive agricultural valleys in the world, producing between 9-10 billion dollars annually. Based on the robust agricultural economy, high amounts of nitrate through fertilization are applied to the soil. Combined with a changing climate, the riparian habitat has faced degradation over time. Within our research, we looked into the riparian health of the Salinas River way within Monterey County. The amounts of nitrate used ranged up to  1450 pounds per ranch acre. The data within Monterey County showed that there were economic benefits to the fertilizers used within the local agriculture efforts. However, there were environmental ramifications due to the nitrate usage. The agricultural plots that we analyzed consisted mainly of berry crops, vineyards, and deciduous fruits and nuts. To complete this project, there were a plethora of methods used in order to visualize and map out the data. By comparing these years and the levels of pollution in the water, we identified a possible connection between climate change and worsened water quality in Monterey County.  To assess land use, vegetation, and environmental changes over time, we utilized high-resolution satellite imagery, local agricultural monitoring systems, regional environmental databases, and US Census and Cropscape data.

Utilizing Geospatial Air Quality and Groundwater Data Informed by Localized Land Use to Identify a Green Space Location for Seville, CA
Eloise McKinnon, Joshua Wang, Sistine Noel, Caylee Sanders, Stephanie Davis

Seville is a rural, unincorporated township in Tulare County, California. As a primarily Spanish-speaking community where the median income is less than 60% of the statewide median, residents have limited advocacy ability and experience disproportionate environmental impacts. In collaboration with CRLA, Seville has been awarded a NOAA grant for the development of a green space within the community. Studies indicate that greenspaces aid in carbon sequestration and groundwater filtration, mitigate urban heat island effects, and contribute recreational and psychological benefits for communities. We utilized high-resolution satellite imagery in GEE to analyze local air contaminants (O3, SO2, CO) and map vegetation cover, and GAMA groundwater data to analyze water contaminants (NO2, U, Cr(VI), Ra2). Using spatial analysis tools in ArcGIS, we generated comprehensive maps to identify and display environmental hazard levels in relation to vulnerable demographics and consulted zoning and parcel data from the county to analyze ideal lots within our target parameters. Our results showed that Seville experiences elevated levels of most contaminants and lacks sufficient tree cover, highlighting the value of a green space. We identified three primary site options for a 2 to 3-acre community park that would contain around 15-30 trees per acre. Using I-Tree planting and tree species analysis, we’ve determined that our park could provide substantial benefits over time, including improving air quality, cooling heat, and stormwater retention, as well as providing other ecosystem services.

Comprehensive Health Report Card for the Lower Tuolumne River 
Ben Kyrillos, Jasper Johnson, Piper Wood, Jackson Giraudi, Amalia Eulate

The lower portion of the Tuolumne River flows from the La Grange Dam into the San Joaquin River. This stretch runs through a region of the Central Valley surrounded by agricultural and urban development. Our team’s project looks to comprehensively assess the health of this stretch of river and communicate the results to surrounding populations, dominated by vulnerable environmental justice communities, who are directly impacted. Health reports have been made, in this manner, for other rivers, though no such report has been created for the Tuolumne specifically. This health report helps determine which areas of the river’s health are in need of improvement and which areas are doing well. Our aim is to provide a guide for river improvement efforts for the areas in greatest need that our partner, the Tuolumne River Trust, can utilize. The metrics we graded were chosen based on existing report cards for other rivers throughout the U.S. Existing data on the Tuolumne, in conjunction with water quality measurements captured by ourselves, were utilized to grade the river's condition.