The tasks required to achieve the program goals were to improve data communication through a central distribution system, refine the computer programs developed in 1981, and to continue to coordinate program activities among ten counties, the Air Resources Board, Noweasting, and Fife Environmental.

Other efforts in 1982 included devising a north/south acreage shift formula, providing aircraft observations during the fall period, and better utilizing superior ventilation days to maximize burning acreage. The Air Resources Board criteria and procedures for the fall burning test program were also reexamined in 1982, and some recommendations were made for program and procedural changes.

The main indicators of air quality for the fall test program are coefficients of haze, hours of smoke recorded at valley airports, and smoke complaints received by the Air Resources Board. Coefficient of haze is measured every two hours on a strip of filter paper and indicates the amount of solid particles present in the atmosphere. Hours of smoke are obtained from visibility observations taken at Red Bluff, Marysville, Sacramento Metro and Sacramento Executive airports. When visibility drops below seven miles, the cause is recorded as fog, rain, smoke, haze, etc. Complaints are those received by the Enforcement Division of the Air Resources Board.

Significant improvements were made in all three measurements of air quality compared to the earlier agricultural burning program. In 1982, for the 45-day period from October 1 through November 15, the coefficient of haze readings and the hours of smoke reported at valley airports decreased even from the levels reported in the 1981 test. The amount of acres burned during this same period in 1982 increased 43 percent over the 1981 test. There were 32 complaints received in 1982, but this was far below the 220 complaints that were filed in 1980.

The 1982 fall weather was abnormal with rainfall occurring on 12 days of the 45-day test period. Conditions were too wet for burning on many other days following heavy rains. Meteorological conditions during the test program also included days with gusty northerly winds and periods of stagnant atmospheric conditions. Therefore burning conditions ranged from very good to very poor.

During the October 1 through November 15 test period, 239,000 acres were burned. In late September another 10,000 acres were burned for a total of 249,000 acres during the fall of 1982. Average acres burned per usable (dry) burn day was 5,200 acres in 1981 and 7,300 acres in 1982, or an increase of 40 percent per day. In 1982, there were three days on which 13,000 acres were burned, one day with 17,000 acres, and one day with 18,000 acres burned, all without creating air quality problems in the Sacramento Valley.

The design and basic procedures of the research program have been proven valid. The shortened fall burning hours, county burning management zones, and daily variable acreage allocation system are effective in achieving the program goals. Further improvements, however, are possible in the daily program operations. The following recommendations for 1983 are made based upon the results of the past two years:

• upgrade the county computer systems by increasing data storage capacity and improving printing capabilities
• improve county/grower communications and establish standardized county guidelines for burn permits and allocating burn acreage to growers
• refine the north/south acreage shift formula and improve implementation 'of the formula;
• improve the timing of allocations for burning on superior ventilation days
• improve the central computer distribution operations.