Summer is right around the corner and that means our region will be seeing higher ground-level ozone pollution . . . known as smog.

The region's Spare The Air trigger is now 127 AQI or .086 parts per million. Last season the trigger for calling a Spare The Air day remained at 150 AQI. With the President's September 2011 order to keep the federal 8-hour standard at .075 ppm, as written in 2008, the Sacramento region's Spare The Air trigger was lowered.

Although there will be more Spare The Air days due to the lower trigger, air quality has not gotten worse. We are simply responding to the latest health effects information and standards that show ozone is harmful at even lower levels.

The best way to reduce smog is to reduce driving. Cut back on trips, carpool to work or recreational activities and do your part to Spare The Air.