Council Mission


  • We are dedicated to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Nehalem watershed through leadership, cooperation and education.

Nehalem watershed Overview

The Nehalem watershed sits in the northwest corner of Oregon.  Its eastern boundary is only a short drive from Portland.  Because of the distance between the population center in the Upper Nehalem (Vernonia) and the Lower Nehalem (Nehalem and Manzanita) two separate Watershed Councils were created to assist in the implementation of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.  The Nehalem river and its tributaries form a watershed of 855 square miles.  The river is the longest river in the Oregon Coast Range flowing 105 miles from its source.

About Watershed councils

Watershed councils are locally organized, voluntary, non-regulatory groups established to improve the condition of watersheds in their local area.  Watershed councils are required to represent the interests in the basin and be balanced in their makeup. Watershed councils offer local residents the opportunity to independently evaluate watershed conditions and identify opportunities to restore or enhance the conditions. Through the councils, partnerships between residents, local, state and federal agency staff and other groups can be developed.

Watershed Map