About Watershed Councils

Interactive Online Council Mapping Tool

List of Oregon watershed councils with contact information

A watershed council is a community-based, voluntary, non-regulatory group that meets regularly in their local communities to assess conditions in a given watershed (usually a river or creek and the lands that drain into them) and to conduct projects to restore or enhance the waters and lands for fish and native plants in their areas.  Oregon is one of the few states to have this community-based model – supported by the state and recognized by local governments – to focus on restoring land and water from “ridgetop to ridgetop.”

Watershed councils work with local, state, and federal partners and private landowners.  Projects include things like replacing culverts to allow for better fish passage or planting shady plants along a creek to keep the water cool enough for fish.  Councils are designated by county governments and are expected to have broad and balanced representation and viewpoints.

Fifty-nine watershed councils receive capacity funding support through the state Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). This state agency is funded through the sales of lottery tickets as well as through the federal Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund. OWEB provides grants for operating funds, restoration projects, and other programs to enable councils to carry out restoration, monitor the status of the watershed, and reach out to landowners and other community members.

Councils are diverse; some work in dense population centers while others serve in large rural areas. Some have staffs of 10 or more, while many have smaller staffs and many operate out of donated or shared office spaces.  Some are non-profit organizations, while others partner with Soil and Water Conservation Districts or other local and state organizations as their fiscal sponsors. 

List of NOWC Member Watershed Councils 

Region 1 (North Coast)

Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce	Astoria	503.325.0435	dlofman@columbiaestuary.org
Lower Columbia WC	Saint Helens	503.433.3205	allan@whitingenv.com
Lower Nehalem WC	Nehalem	503.368.7424	lnwc@nehalemtel.net
Midcoast WC	Newport	541.265.9195	evan@midcoastwc.org
Necanicum WC	Seaside	503.717.1458	necanicumwatershed @gmail.com
Nestucca, Neskowin & Sand Lake WC	Pacific City	503.965.2200	nnwc@nestuccawaters.org
North Coast Watershed Association	Astoria	503.468.0408	northcoastwatershedcouncils @gmail.com
Siuslaw WC	Mapleton	541.268.3044	watershed@siuslaw.org
Upper Nehalem WC	Vernonia	503.429.0869	maggie@nehalem.org

Region 2 (Southwest Oregon) 

Applegate Partnership & WC	Jacksonville	541.899.9982	contact@apwc.info
Coos WA	Coos Bay	541.888.5922	cooswa@cooswatershed.org
Coquille WA	Coquille	541.396.2541	info@coquillewatershed.org
Elk Creek WC	Yoncalla	541.836.7206	russell.leland@gmail.com
Illinois Valley WC	Cave Junction	541.592.3731	kevin@ivstreamteam.org
Lower Rogue WC	Gold Beach	541.247.2755	kelly@currywatersheds.org
Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers	Roseburg	541.673.5756	eric@umpquarivers.org
Rogue River WC	Central Point	541.423.6158	info@rogueriverwc.org
South Coast WC	Gold Beach	541.247.2755	miranda.gray @currywatersheds.org

Region 3 (Willamette Basin) 

Calapooia WC	Brownsville	541.583.3626	operations@calapooia.org
Clackamas Basin WC	Clackamas	503.303.4372	info@clackamasriver.org
Coast Fork Willamette WC	Cottage Grove	541.767.9717	coordinator@coastfork.org
Columbia Slough WC	Portland	503.281.1132	info@columbiaslough.org
Greater Oregon City WC	Oregon City	503.427.0439	gocwc@aol.com
Greater Yamhill WC	McMinnville	503.474.1047	luke@gywc.org
Johnson Creek WC	Portland	503.652.7477	daniel@jcwc.org
Long Tom WC	Eugene	541.654.8965	info@longtom.org
Luckiamute WC	Independence	503.837.0237	director @luckiamutelwc.org
Marys River WC	Corvallis	541.758.7597	holly@mrwc.org
McKenzie WC	Springfield	458.201.8150	jared@mckenziewc.org
Middle Fork Willamette WC	Lowell	541.937.9800	contact @middleforkwillamette willamette.org
Mollalla River Watch	Molalla	503.559.0885	molallariverwatch @gmail.com
North Santiam WC	Stayton	503.930.8202	council@northsantiam.org
Pudding River WC	Woodburn	503.982.5387	cleanpuddingriver @gmail.com
Scappoose Bay WC	Warren	503.397.7904	info @scappoosebay-wc.org
South Santiam WC	Sweet Home	541.367.5564	s.richardson.sswc @gmail.com
Tryon Creek WC	Lake Oswego	530.902.7528	alexis@tryoncreek.org

Region 4 (Central Oregon) 

Crooked River WC	Prineville	541.447.8567	chris@crwc.info
Hood River WG	Hood River	541.386.4588	cindy@hoodriverswcd.org
Klamath WP	Klamath Falls	541.850.1717	info @klamathpartnership.org
Lake County Umbrella WC	Lakeview	541.219.0493	bdneider23@gmail.com
Middle Deschutes WC	Redmond	541.699.3202	middledeschuteswc @gmail.com
Upper Deschutes WC	Bend	541.382.6103	kknight @restorethedeschutes.org
Wasco County Area Watersheds	The Dalles	541.296.6178 x102	abigail.forrest@or.nacdnet.net

Region 5 (Eastern Oregon )

Grande Ronde Model WC	La Grande	541.663.0570	jesse@grmw.org
Harney County WC	Hines	541.573.2000	hcwatershedcouncil.com
Malheur WC	Ontario	541.881.1417	diebelk12@gmail.com
Owyhee WC	Adrian	541.372.5782	agreenowc@qwestoffice.net
Powder Basin WC	Baker City	541.523.7288	pbwced@qwestoffice.net

Region 6 (Mid Columbia)

Gilliam-East John Day WC	Condon	541.384.2281	gilliamwc@gmail.com
Mid John Day-Bridge Creek WC	Fossil	541.468.2990	midjohndaywc @wheelerswcd.org
North Fork John Day WC	Long Creek	541.421.3018	info@nfjdwc.org
Sherman County WC	Moro	541.565.3216 x1010	amanda.whitman @or.nacdnet.net
South Fork John Day WC	John Day	541.620.5739	astiner@outlook.com
Umatilla Basin WC	Pendleton	541.276.2190	umatillawatershed@gmail.com
Walla Walla Basin WC	Milton-Freewater	541.938.2170	troy.baker@wwbwc.org