Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area
Establishment of LUBGWMA
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) designated the Lower Umatilla Basin a Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) in 1990 because of elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater samples (ORS 468B.180). According to the LUBGWMA First Action Plan, DEQ established the LUBGWMA Committee in 1996 under the Oregon Ground Water Quality Protection Act of 1989 (ORS 468B.150 to 468B.190) for the purpose of restoring and improving groundwater quality by decreasing nitrate concentration to less than 7 mg/L in the groundwater in the basin, which is 70% of the federal safe drinking water standard of 10 mg/L. This area encompasses parts of Northern Morrow and Umatilla counties including Hermiston, Boardman, Irrigon, Stanfield, and Echo. After the Groundwater Management Area was declared, a four-year interagency hydrogeological investigation was conducted to determine the extent of contamination and to identify the potential sources of that contamination.
Nitrate sources
There are multiple sources of nitrate contamination in the LUBGWMA, resulting in varying levels of nitrate in groundwater throughout the area. A 2011 analysis by DEQ, ODA, and OSU Extension identified the following primary estimated sources of contamination: about 70% from irrigated farmland, about 13% from large dairy and cattle farms (confined animal feeding operations or CAFOs), about 8% from animal pastures, about 5% from food processing facilities that reuse wastewater to irrigate fields, and about 5% from residential onsite septic systems and other sources.
Advisory Committee
After designation of a groundwater management area, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with other appropriate state agencies, appoints a local committee to advise state agencies on local elements of long-term plans to reduce groundwater contamination in the area (ORS 468B.182).
The Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area Committee is comprised of members representing county, tribal, and city governments, science and research institutions, irrigated agriculture producers, livestock/dairy/CAFO operations, industry and business (food processors), environmental nonprofits, and the general public.
The committee is co-convened by DEQ, ODA, and OWRD and meets regularly. Advisory committee meetings are open to the public to listen and observe.
Drinking Water Safety
High levels of nitrate in the water you use for drinking and cooking can cause long- and short-term health effects. Infants fed baby formula mixed with high levels of nitrate-contaminated water are at risk for blue baby syndrome, a condition causing decreased ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen.
If your water is from a private well: Protect your family. Get free tests, water and treatment through the Oregon Health Authority.
If your water is from a city or community water system: Your water is safe to drink. You don’t have to test your water. Public water systems are required to regularly test the quality of their water and ensure it is safe to drink.
Timeline of past events
1990-2000
Formation of First Action Plan – December 1997
2000-2021
Formation of Second Action Plan – October 2020
Completion of the Tenure as Chair by Dr. Scott Lucks Oregon State University– August 2022
2022-2024
- Appointment of Chair Dr. Salini Sasidharan (Oregon State University) and Vice Chair Commissioner Dan Dorran (Umatilla County) – September 2022
- Restructuring of Committee with 11 Members Representing Diverse Categories and Expertise – September 2022 – July 2023
- Morrow County – Commissioner Roy Drago Jr. (Primary); Tamra Mabbott (Alternate), Morrow County
- Umatilla County – Commissioner Dan Dorran (Former Committee Vice Chair, primary); Robert (Bob) Waldher (Alternate), Umatilla County
- Tribal Government – Eric Quaempts (Primary); Kate Ely (Alternate), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)
- City Government – Aaron Palmquist, City of Irrigon (Primary); David Stockdale, City of Umatilla (Alternate)
- Science and Research – Dr. Salini Sasidharan, Oregon State University (Former Committee Chair, Primary); Dr. Ruijun Qin (Ray) (Alternate)
- Irrigated Agriculture – Jake Madison (Primary); TBD (Alternate), Madison Farms
- Livestock/Dairy/CAFO – Greg Harris (Primary); Misty Edgecomb (Alternate), Threemile Canyon Farms
- Industry and Business – Ian Toevs, Lamb Weston (Primary); Debbie Radie, Boardman Foods, Inc. (Alternate)
- Environmental Nonprofit Organizations – Karen Lewotsky (Primary); Jana Gastellum (Alternate), Oregon Environmental Council
- General Public (position 1) – Kristin Anderson Ostrom (Primary); Kaleb Lay (Alternate), Oregon Rural Action
- General Public (position 2) – Jose Garcia, resident and community leader (Primary); Eric Ashford (Alternate)
- Present the Status and Goals of the LUBGWMA at House Interim Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, and Water by Salini Sasidharan – September 2022
- Enhanced Website Interface and Communication – December 2022
- Appointing a Postdoc with the Institute of Water and Watershed and Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, to Develop a Conceptual Hydrogeology Model for the LUBGWMA – December 2022
- Establishment and Approval of Bylaws Providing a Structured Framework for Our Operations – February 2023
- Work closely with HDR to Draft a Roadmap to Implementation of the Second Action Plan – May 2023
- Statue Evaluation and Defining the Roles and Responsibilities of Various Agencies – March 2023
- A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Second Action Plan at the LUBGWMA Committee and Proposal for Multiday Workshop – May 2023
- Conducted the Regional Pre-Workshop Survey to Identify Workshop Format, Key Second Action Priorities and Participants – July 2023
- LUBGWMA Regional Workshop hosted by OSU – August 2023
- Formation and Appointment of Subcommittee Coordinators – December 2023
- Funding – Subcommittee Coordinator/s: Dan Dorran (PM); Gregg Harris(AM)
- Technical – Subcommittee Coordinator/s: Salini Sasidharan (PM); Ian Toevs (AM)
- Liaison and Partnership – Subcommittee Coordinator/s: Jake Madison (PM); Karen Lewotsky (AM)
- Communication – Subcommittee Coordinator/s: Misty Edgecomb (PM); Debbie Radie (AM)
- Best Management Practices – Subcommittee Coordinator/s: Bob Waldher (PM); Tamra Mabbott (AM)
- Established a LUBGWMA Committee Operational Structure and Decision-Making (Voting) Framework – November 2023
- Appointment of Jane Hill, a Liaison between LUBGWMA Committee and State Agencies – January 2024
- Recruitment of Members for various Subcommittees via General Public Recruitment Call to Ensure the Inclusion of Regionwide Experts – February 2024
- Completion of the Tenure as Chair by Dr. Salini Sasidharan and Vice Chair by Commissioner Dan Dorran – April 2024
- Visit of Directors from DEQ, ODA and OWRD at LUBGWMA Committee Meeting and Discussed the Path Forward for Resources and Agency Leadership – April 2024
- Transition of Committee as the LUBGWMA Advisory Committee Inspired by Walla Walla Basin Advisory Committee Under the Direction of Agency Directors – April 2024