A federal judge has cleared the path for a lawsuit accusing the Port of Morrow, a power company, and agricultural businesses of polluting the groundwater in the Lower Umatilla Basin to move forward.

Eastern Oregon residents who have lived for years with contaminated water can move forward with a class action lawsuit against the Port of Morrow and large food processors in the area, a federal judge ruled.

ORA's Director of Policy & Research, Kaleb, joins Rumble On The River Community Forum #30 to talk about data centers and their impacts on the regions air, land, and water. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FKv...

Listen to this short clip about the devastating impact of data centers and poisoned wells in Oregon. @oregonrural.bsky.social @earthfirst.bsky.social @foeus.bsky.social

ORA's Kaleb Lay talks about the impacts data centers have on groundwater in the Breaking Green Podcast episode called: "Data Centers And Industrial Farming Are Fueling A Groundwater Crisis". Click the link below to listen to the interview. globaljusticeecology.org/breaking-gre...

ORA's Kaleb Lay was interviewed for the latest KBOO Community Radio segment called: "Data Centers and Ground Water Pollution in the Lower Umatilla Basin". Click the link below to listen to the interview. kboo.fm/media/133166...

Over 62 million Americans — roughly 1 in 5 people — may be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of nitrates in their tap water, a new report has shown. https://cnn.it/4cBcvfO

Nearly one-fifth of Americans relied on drinking water systems with elevated and potentially dangerous levels of nitrate in recent years, according to a new study released Thursday. https://stateline.org/2026/04/23/nitrate-contaminates-the-drinking-water-of-millions-of-americans-study-finds/

🏢 🏛️ 🏗️ Amazon settles class action lawsuit over nitrate pollution in Umatilla Basin 💰🚜🚰 Read the full story, a collaboration with Rolling Stone, at https://thefern.org/2026/03/breaking-amazon-to-pay-20-5-million-to-settle-class-action-suit-over-pollution-ineastern-oregon/

Huge news for Eastern Oregon: Amazon to pay $20.5 million in a class-action lawsuit over groundwater pollution. Story by Sean Patrick Cooper for FERN and Rolling Stone. https://thefern.org/2026/03/breaking-amazon-to-pay-20-5-million-to-settle-class-action-suit-over-pollution-ineastern-oregon/

Tech giant Amazon will pay $20.5 million to settle with northeast Oregonians living with contaminated groundwater in exchange for no admission of guilt in the polluting.

After decades of farm and food processing pollution contaminating groundwater in northeast Oregon, state regulators are proposing new monitoring and testing rules for large farms in the area.

You can watch part two here: www.kptv.com/2025/12/23/m...

Las oficinas de Oregon Rural Action permanecerán cerradas del 24 de diciembre al 2 de enero. Reabriremos nuestras puertas el 5 de enero. ¡Felices fiestas de invierno! ORA's office is closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 2. Our office will be open again on Jan. 5. Happy Winter Holidays!

You can watch the segment here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC16...

Data centers strain water supply in Oregon town already facing pollution crisis

Give a listen to the latest Coast Range Radio Podcast - Is Amazon Fueling A Water Crisis in Oregon? www.buzzsprout.com/1046044?clie...

On this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’re heading east of the Cascades to discuss the redrawing of the Deschutes County maps and the contaminated groundwater in Eastern Oregon.

Read the full story, a collaboration with Rolling Stone, at thefern.org/2025/11/the-... @rollingstone.com

For 30 years, Rosa Sauceda has lived in Laredo, TX, and boiled her water more times than she can count. She, like many across the country, are struggling to access #SafeAffordableWater. This #HumanRightsDay, watch the mini-doc from the #WECRCaucus below ⬇️ app.sosha.ai/s/fUUVmQzN

For 30 yrs, Rosa Sauceda has lived in Laredo, Texas and has boiled her tap water more times than she can count. Buying bottled water monthly costs as much as her water bill. She’s one of millions who struggle to get #SafeAffordableWater. Mini doc from #WECRCaucus climatewaterequity.org/laredo-texas

Group sues PGE, Tillamook over unsafe nitrate levels in NE Oregon water >> https://www.kptv.com/2025/12/08/group-sues-pge-tillamook-over-unsafe-nitrate-levels-ne-oregon-water/

The legal team behind a lawsuit against some of Eastern Oregon’s biggest agricultural businesses is headed back to court with a new case over drinking water pollution.

"There are so many bad actors all at once,” says Lay. “Each of these polluters bears direct responsibility for the pollution that they’re putting out there and they should be held responsible." www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

"Hay tantos actores maliciosos a la vez”, dice Lay. “Cada uno de estos contaminadores tiene responsabilidad directa por la contaminación que generan y deben rendir cuentas." www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

Taking on corporate power, secrecy, and self-dealing public officials is how WORC members protect their communities. This story shows how @oregonrural.bsky.social's grassroots organizing is the spotlight in the darkness of Oregon’s water crisis.

“How can you live with yourself knowing that the water you put in people’s houses is causing miscarriages or cancer? And they’re still making money on deals for new data centers.” @oregonrural.bsky.social members are protecting water from powerful polluters. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages. Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly. In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported. 🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

"Nonprofits in Oregon are stepping in where government officials are delaying action. Oregon Rural Action has advocated for cleaner groundwater, as nitrate levels are also rising in local waterways, as reported by OPB." www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/p...

ORA Press Release 10.16.25 West Glen United Marks Key Milestone in Efforts to Address Polluted Drinking Water. www.oregonrural.org/press-releases

It’s been two years since Hermiston officials revealed Eastern Oregon’s largest city had “forever chemicals” in its water supply. It may be years more before Hermiston residents get more information about the discovery.

✅ La Ley Santuario de Oregón nos protege a todos. 📹 Vea este video para saber por qué la Ley Santuario de Oregón es importante para todos y cómo podemos seguir protegiendo a nuestras familias y comunidades. 📲 Reporte avistamientos a ICE: Línea directa de PIRC: 1-888-622-1510

Immigrants are an integral part of our communities — they are our neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and the essential workers who keep Oregon’s economy and communities strong. Oregon is their home, too. 📞 Report ICE activity: Call the PIRC Hotline at 1-888-622-1510 🔗 OregonforAll.us/resources

✅ Oregon’s Sanctuary Law keeps all of us safe. 📹 Watch this video to learn why Oregon’s Sanctuary Law matters to everyone, and how we can continue to protect our families and communities. 📲 Report ICE sightings: PIRC Hotline 1-888-622-1510

Oregon Rural Action's Office will be closed Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day. Our office will open again on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Idiomas o lenguajes: Español y Mam www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqD...

Languages: Spanish & Mam www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqD...

¿Crees que ves la actividad de ICE (la migra)? Asegúrese de incluir información CLARA cuando reporta actividad de ICE. Gracias por cuidar y defender a los inmigrantes de Oregón. ¡Comparte estos recursos para ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad segura e informada! youtu.be/--X9-G0O-Co?...

Idioma: Mam ¿Crees que ves la actividad de ICE (la migra)? Asegúrese de incluir información CLARA cuando reporta actividad de ICE. Gracias por cuidar y defender a los inmigrantes de Oregón. ¡Comparte estos recursos para ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad segura e informada! youtu.be/IoRPgYdbY0Y

Idioma: Mam ¿Crees que ves la actividad de ICE (la migra)? Asegúrese de incluir información CLARA cuando reporta actividad de ICE. Gracias por cuidar y defender a los inmigrantes de Oregón. ¡Comparte estos recursos para ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad segura e informada! youtu.be/IoRPgYdbY0Y

¿Crees que ves la actividad de ICE (la migra)? Asegúrese de incluir información CLARA cuando reporta actividad de ICE. Gracias por cuidar y defender a los inmigrantes de Oregón. ¡Comparte estos recursos para ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad segura e informada! youtu.be/--X9-G0O-Co?...

Languages: Spanish & Mam www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqD...

Idiomas o lenguajes: Español y Mam www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqD...

Special thanks to Meyer Memorial Trust for highlighting our work here in Eastern Oregon! vimeo.com/1103853751?f...

Los inmigrantes de Oregón son trabajadores esenciales que merecen vivir en nuestras comunidades con sus familias y sentirse seguros y protegidos. En Oregón, todos pertenecemos. Hay recursos actualizados para todos los miembros de la comunidad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulSU...

Immigrant Oregonians are essential workers who deserve to live in our communities with their families and feel safe, secure, and protected, just like other Oregonians. There are updated resources for all community members. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulSU...

Grassroots rural organizing in action--building leaders and lifting up the voices of people affected by poisoned water to be heard by the people whose job it is to keep people in Oregon safe. This video shows the incredible work happening at Oregon Rural Action. #ruralorganizing