Lincoln & Lane (West) County - Information for Partners and Participants

Lincoln and western Lane Counties are located on the central coast of Oregon. The coast’s climate is influenced by the ocean and is the wettest and mildest in the state. These conditions support highly productive forests which dominate the region. They are important ecologically and for local economies. Some towns in the region include: Florence, Lincoln City, and Newport. Forestry remains the primary industry in the interior areas; wood harvest quantities were high during the 1970s and 1980s, but have declined dramatically. Most private nonindustrial woodlands and livestock farms are small compared to the rest of the State. Tourism is important to the coastal communities. Fishing (both commercial and recreational) and fish processing are significant components of the economy.

NRCS Local Conservation Activities and Strategies

The priorities are conservation and management of privately owned woodland and small farms. In the Siuslaw region, the coastal lakes and the North Fork of the Siuslaw River are the focus area for conservation projects. In the Lincoln County area, the upper Yaquina River and Siletz River watersheds are the focus location.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS has focused on forest management concerns over the last five years. As a response to historic markets, Douglas fir stands dominate the landscape. These Douglas fir forests are less resilient to pests, disease, and fire, than a mixed forest stand. Recent management tactics have included diversification of forest stands to include multiple species. Increasing the number of actively managed multispecies forests could improve the resiliency of coastal forests to disease, pests, and fire.

Conservation Implementation Strategy
 

NRCS Programs Available

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
  • Funding for forest improvements to reduce wildfire, insects and disease concerns.
  • Funding to restore oak woodland/savanna habitat.
  • Funding for organic producers.
  • Funding to reduce on farm energy use.
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP):
  • Funding for conservation stewardship and additional enhancements.
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
  • Funding for oak habitat restoration.
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP):
  • Funding for wetland habitat restoration.

Additional Conservation Resources Available

• Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District
• Siuslaw Soil and Water Conservation District
• MidCoast Watersheds Council
• Siuslaw Watershed Council
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and Oregon Department of Environmental
  • Quality funds may be accessed through the soil and water conservation districts and
    watershed councils.
• Farm Service Agency – Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
   

Local Work Group Updates

If you are interested in participating, please contact the NRCS District Conservationist listed below.

For meeting information, please click here.

Success Story

Walker's Tornado Farming: Taking Point Source Pollution to Productive Sustainable Farmland in Seven Year Siletz, Ore. – A tornado is the symbol in their farm’s logo and for their personal lifestyle. Randy and Sarah Walker have generated a whirlwind of conservation activity and results as they converted their 20-acre property located 16 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, from point source polluter to productive, sustainable farmland. Their success is the result of their vision, hard work and the assistance from technical staff and programs of the USDA-National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District (LSWCD) and other natural resource partners. More (HTML)... Download a printable copy (704 KB) Key Words: EQIP, Manure Management, Soil Management, Upper Willamette Basin

For Additional Assistance Contact

Newport Satellite Office
23 North Coast Highway
Newport, Oregon 97365

Lincoln County NRCS District Conservationist:  Kate Danks, (541) 265-2631
Siuslaw SWCD:  (541) 997-1272