Almost all of Oregon’s coastal communities face water insecurity. Regionally steep terrain and shallow soils limit groundwater storage, so most residents get their water from in-stream intakes. These intakes are usually sufficient, but when populations triple due to summer tourism, the systems become strained.
Since 2020, we’ve been working with a broad coalition of partners to identify solutions to the coast’s drinking water challenges. Supported by a new grant program through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), leaders across Oregon’s central coast are developing and implementing Drinking Water Protection Plans that identify threats to drinking water and opportunities to address them. Strategies include acquiring land in watersheds the public relies on, developing cooperative land management models, and investing in infrastructure to improve water storage and movement between communities.
These efforts are being uplifted across Oregon’s coastal communities, with Land Trusts at the table as transaction specialists who can support communities in acquiring land or protecting it through conservation easements. Central Coast Conservation Program Manager Margaret Treadwell explains that to improve water quality and storage capacity, forests in drinking watersheds must be safeguarded and allowed to mature through their natural cycles. “To put it simply, a healthy forest is a natural reservoir.”
We are honored to work alongside a diverse range of partners to tackle one of our region’s most pressing threats. Thank you to all of our supporters who invest in this important work with your annual memberships. Together, we can safeguard clean drinking water for Oregonians today and for generations to come.
Reflections on Measure 20-373
McKenzie River Trust Executive Director Joe Moll shares his reflections on the proposed “Lane County Watershed Bill of Rights” (Measure 20-373).
Public Notice: McKenzie River Trust Seeks Accreditation Renewal
McKenzie River Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for its third accreditation renewal through the national Land Trust Alliance. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The public is invited to comment through Monday, December 22nd, 2025
Caring Across Time
More than four years ago, McKenzie River Trust expanded our work into Lincoln County to help safeguard this special place. Now, we’re carrying forward the good work of the Central Coast Land Conservancy and expanding impact across the Yaquina River watershed.
