Watersheds
OUR WATERSHEDS
We serve as a forum for public participation and education regarding decisions that affect those who live, work and recreate in the watersheds, now and in the future. Originally formed in 1995 as the Nestucca Waershed, the Council has expanded to include the Nestucca, Little Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watersheds.
The headwaters of the Nestucca River are located west of McMinnville, flowing 53 miles long and entering Nestucca Bay in Pacific City. The Nestucca River offers angling opportunities for chinook and coho salmon, cutthroat trout and steelhead, and river access for recreational boating and whitewater kayaking... more
The Little Nestucca River is approximately 20 miles long and is paralleled by County Road 130 for much of its entirety. The Little Nestucca joins the Nestucca River just before it reaches the ocean... more
The Neskowin River lies eight miles south of Pacific City. Existing development in the watershed includes year-round residents and vacation homes, an RV park, a motel, and a golf course... 
Sand Lake Estuary is one of a few examples of unaltered estuarine systems in Oregon. It’s estimated that 50-80% of tidal marsh has been lost in Oregon – this declining habitat that is prevalent in Sand Lake is a conservation priority...