Schooner Creek

In July 2026, the City of Lincoln City acquired 300 acres of former timberland in the Schooner Creek watershed as part of its Source Water Protection program. Protecting this forest will help safeguard the city's drinking water while improving habitat for fish and wildlife.

The project was made possible through collaboration between the City of Lincoln City, GSI Water Solutions, Weyerhaeuser, the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District, and McKenzie River Trust.

Our Central Coast Conservation Program Manager, Margaret Treadwell, provided technical expertise throughout the acquisition, helping guide negotiations, due diligence, and the land transaction.

This project reflects a broader effort taking place across Oregon's coast. Through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's Drinking Water Protection Program, communities, land trusts, watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, and local partners are working together to protect the forests and headwaters that provide clean, reliable drinking water.

By combining local knowledge with technical expertise, shared data, and strategic funding, these partnerships are helping communities strengthen their water security while conserving the landscapes that sustain people and wildlife alike.