“Beleaguered Oregon water pollution committee gains new leadership amid scrutiny”

August 18, 2022 Oregon Rural Action

By Alex Baumhardt | Oregon Capital Chronicle | August 18, 2022

Mitch Wolgamott, former regional administrator for DEQ’s east Oregon office, agreed. “There’s no way that the problem can be solved without some changes to irrigated agriculture,” said Wolgamott, a former committee member. … Wolgamott agreed that farmers need to reduce their nitrate pollution. “They don’t appear to be willing to do it voluntarily, so I don’t know any alternative than regulation,” Wolgamott said. Wolgamott was dismayed that the new leaders want more research rather than recommending immediate actions. Other new leaders also have called for more studies even though there’s been plenty of research on nitrate pollution in the region from DEQ and OSU, Wolgamott said. “I hope they are serious about doing something this time,” he said. “They certainly were not willing to do so when I was there.