State Releases Nitrate Reduction Plan for Lower Umatilla Basin
By Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Four Oregon state agencies [Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), and Oregon Health Authority (OHA)] released their Nitrate Reduction Plan for the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA), which outlines the state’s plan for public health responses and long-term strategies to reduce nitrate levels in groundwater in areas within the Basin. OFS has been tracking the state’s efforts on this topic and has assembled a coalition of agricultural and natural resource organizations to advocate for the needs of agriculture in the region and beyond. We are preparing for a meeting with the Governor’s staff on this issue and will be working hard to ensure that any proposed solutions impacting agriculture are grounded in data and science. Find the full plan here. Feedback on the plan can be submitted here.
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