In 2021, the Just Environments Lab began collaborating and working with nonprofits, officials, residents, and organizers throughout the Pájaro Valley to build up the region’s capacity to withstand floods, wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, and sea level rise, among other natural hazards.

This work has included undertaking planning and policy studies, providing future visions for the physical spaces of the region through design work, and serving as an academic liaison on community- and government-led initiatives. These efforts persisted through the 2023 Winter Storms, a series of atmospheric rivers which caused persistent and widespread flooding throughout the Pájaro Valley. This flooding culminated in March 2023 with the breaching of the levees surrounding the Pájaro River. From this, we engaged not only in hazard mitigation efforts, but also in emergency response, disaster recovery, and (increasingly) reconstruction efforts.

This webpage serves as a community archive of all the resources produced from these efforts from 2021 to present.

Our aim is to provide the Pájaro Valley community and its allies with the insights, maps, information, and county and agency level recommendations provided by the Just Environments Lab in collaboration with the communities of the Pajaro Valley. All resources offered here are free and publicly available.

Any questions regarding these resources or requests for further research, support, or resources can be forwarded to: Dr. Danielle Zoe Rivera (dzrivera@berkeley.edu).

Many thanks to the following organizations for their support of our Pájaro Valley work:

• University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources (UCANR): Early Career Award (2023-2025)

• University of California Berkeley - Institute for Urban and Regional Development (IURD): Lau Climate Futures Grant (2024-2025)

• Natural Hazards Center: Quick Response Award (2023-2024)