​Today's farmers and food processors throughout the Basin pride themselves on being innovative when it comes to sustainability and water management practices. 

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INSERT FACTS AND VISUALS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND PUT THEM IN CONTEXT HOW THEY REDUCE IMPACT OF NITRATES - THIS CAN INCLUDE VIDEO AND QUOTES 

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Modern agricultural practices have been in practice for many years and farmers have often led the charge when it comes to adapting the latest technology, but recent years have seen state agencies playing a more active role in tackling the nitrate issue in the region. 

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Farming practices are now much more advanced than they were even 20 years ago. They include:

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• Monitoring: On a weekly basis, farmers measure how much nitrate uptake has occurred in plants and how much is going into the soil. By monitoring in real time, we can ensure that we are applying fertilizer at a rate that keeps the crops healthy while also preventing nitrates from reaching the groundwater.

• Fertilizing: Nitrogen is a necessary part of growing healthy crops. Without nitrogen, most crops today wouldn’t exist. Over the years, farming practices have advanced so that it’s possible to apply just what the crop needs and no more. Nutrient management is based on soil health information, plant tissue sampling and recommended fertilizer rates for each crop. Precision irrigation equipment ensures both water and fertilizer are applied according to the specific needs of that field – or even a zone in that field.

• Timing: The industry has dramatically shifted how farms operate to apply nitrogen to crops only when we know they can use and absorb it. Fall and winter nitrogen is generally only applied when the ground is not frozen.

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TURN THESE INTO A STORYMAP WITH EACH DATE LISTED PLUS ONE SENTENCE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS IN TERMS OF LEADING TO PROGRESS

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2023
•     Jan 2023 – Agencies sign Memorandum of Agreement (ODA + DEQ).
•     2023 – Mapping tool for agriculture inventory (crops, irrigation, livestock).
2024
•    Sept 20, 2024 – Oregon Nitrate Reduction Plan released.
•    Oct 2024 – Community open house with landowner outreach.
•     Dec 3, 2024 – First quarterly report submitted to U.S. EPA.

2025
•    Jan 24, 2025 – Updated DEQ well nitrate trend analysis published.
•    Apr 2025 – Hydrogeology update delivered (peer review pending, Oct 31 target).
•     Jun 30, 2025 – 30% domestic well testing milestone achieved.
•    Jul 31, 2025 – Second quarterly report to U.S. EPA.
•    Fall 2025 – Fertilizer registration + livestock inventory outreach.
Beyond 2025
•    2026–2031 – Ongoing quarterly sampling, BMP adoption, well retesting, septic replacement programs, hydrogeologic studies, and annual progress reports.​​

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Short-term Solutions and Accomplishments: Progress updates  

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THIS SECTION SHOULD INTERACTIVE WITH VISUALS AND UNDER EACH SHORT TERM SOLUTION IT WILL SHOW CURRENT STATUS

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Get clean drinking water to all residents: Local businesses have collectively invested $500 million in improvements in water usage, pretreatment and efficiency. We support these efforts, including installing filters, connecting residents to city drinking water and providing ongoing water delivery.

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Filter installment for eligible households: OHA is working with licensed local plumbers and well users to install treatment systems. We support these efforts.

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Outreach materials: Ensuring all residents who depend on a domestic well for drinking water understand there are
potential health risks from elevated nitrates in their well water, that safe water services are available to them,
and how and whom to contact to access needed services and support.

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Well improvements: Ensure wells are properly constructed, altered, maintained, and decommissioned so as
to prevent contamination, loss of artesian pressure, and waste of Oregon's groundwater resources.

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Groundwater sampling, monitoring, and trend analysis: Quarterly sampling of DEQ’s long-term well network of about 30 wells; occasional larger-scale sampling events as resources allow. Continue to track fluctuations or consistencies in nitrate concentrations over time to understand how land use activities may affect groundwater quality.

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Long-Term Goals

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In looking at long-term goals for the Basin, it's important to remember that some solutions may be years away. While some of the goals below are already in development or in practice by many farmers and businesses in the region, it may take longer for them to become the standard. We are focused on supporting the goals and solutions listed here, and we are invested in making them successful to ensure the well-being of our community members as well as the vitality of our farmers. 

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• Invest in research: We need to do more research to understand the hydrology of the Lower Umatilla Basin, the legacy groundwater contamination and how to fix it. 

• Establish standards: We should codify best practices in farming to ensure ongoing monitoring of plants and soils and careful application of nitrates to prevent further contamination.

• Updating infrastructure: Multiple counties are exploring ways to bring clean drinking water directly to residents. These improvement projects are not directly part of the Nitrate Reduction Plan and are not intended to be a replacement for the work to actually reduce and remove nitrates from the LUBGWMA, but their parallel trajectory is another step

• Move forward with aquifer recharge projects that remove high nitrate groundwater and recharge aquifers with fresh clean water.

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Partner Resources

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Even before the Nitrate Reduction Plan, H2OEO has worked closely with state agencies, counties, and local businesses to ensure that our community has access to the latest updates and resources.

• Oregon Health Authority (OHA):

• Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA):
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ):
• Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD):
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
• Morrow County
• Umatilla County

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Quarterly Well Testing Data

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The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has shared the most recent data from well testing in the LUBGWMA. OHA is working with its partners like H2OEO and community-based organizations to provide free safe water services to households impacted by high nitrate levels in northern Morrow and northwestern Umatilla counties. View the latest testing data.​​​