DEQ designated the Lower Umatilla Basin a Groundwater Management Area in 1990 because of elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater samples. The LUBGWMA spans over 550 square miles in northern Morrow and northwestern Umatilla counties.
The State of Oregon is committed to reducing nitrate contamination in groundwater to protect the health of people who live in the area. High levels of nitrate in drinking water pose a serious health threat, particularly to formula-fed infants and pregnant people. In Oregon, DEQ has designated three Groundwater Management Areas, because of elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater.
The Nitrate Reduction Plan for the LUBGWMA outlines the state’s key strategies to reduce groundwater nitrate concentrations in the area and protect public health in the immediate term.
