Port of Morrow gets gov's OK to apply wastewater in winter
By Berit Thorson | East Oregonian | Jan. 13, 2025
BOARDMAN — Gov. Tina Kotek intervened Monday, Jan. 13, letting the Port of Morrow apply wastewater to low-risk fields in the Lower Umatilla Basin during the nongrowing season, when application is normally prohibited.
Kotek’s executive order is to prevent the port shutting down, as its storage lagoon is near capacity after a heavy rainy period since November. The order goes into effect Jan. 15 and lasts through February, the remainder of the nongrowing season.
Precipitation has been above the 95th percentile of the average for the last 23 years, according to a press release announcing the order. The area had about 3.8 inches of rain in recent months, and the increased precipitation is expected to continue. Every inch of rain represents about 222 million gallons of capacity, meaning the port’s capacity to store wastewater is limited due to the higher precipitation.
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