A Grassroots Effort

Nitrate loading to groundwater in the Columbia Basin comes from a variety of "diffuse" non-point sources (meaning any source of water pollution not attributable to a specific location or practice as defined in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act).

Local leaders believe that sustainable groundwater protection will be achieved now and in the future when local residents understand, and accept the need to change attitudes and practices.  Local residents' understanding and acceptance are attained by maximizing their participation in developing and implementing the recommendations presented in the GWMA Plan.  Therefore, the development of the GWMA Plan, and its effective implementation, will be proactive, voluntary, and locally-driven.

The GWMA includes participants from a wide spectrum of local interests.  Participants represent irrigated and dryland farmers, municipal and industrial wastewater land application site operators, livestock industry operators, cities, urban and rural residential interests, and environmental and recreation interest groups.  It is this wide participation that allows their recommendations to be regional in focus and far-reaching and far-sighted in scope.