Chehalem Mountain’s groundwater is under pressure. We are here to help.
Chehalem Mountain Water Council is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the community's groundwater supply through scientific monitoring, legal advocacy, and resident education. We watch the water levels so our neighbors don't have to do it alone.
If you run out of water, there’s no backup.
For residents of Chehalem Mountain, the stakes are personal. Here’s what you need to know:
Your well is your only water source.
Chehalem Mountain isn’t connected to municipal water. Every home runs on a private well. There is no city line to fall back on, which means what happens to the aquifer system happens to you.
Commercial water use affects your supply.
Groundwater is shared. A large reservoir or a new subdivision - each one draws from the same underground source your household depends on.
Residents have a
voice.
Oregon's water rights process is open to the public, but navigating it takes time and expertise a lot of people don’t have. CMWC monitors and advocates so residents have a voice before decisions are made, not after.
Our Story
CMWC grew out of Save Chehalem Mountain, a community group that successfully fought a water right application that would have drawn heavily from the mountain's aquifer system to irrigate a large commercial marijuana farm. When that threat passed, the work didn't stop. New issues kept emerging. It became clear the community needed ongoing support to protect our water source.
That's how CMWC was born: a nonprofit built on technical expertise, community partnerships, and a singular focus on protecting Chehalem Mountain's water supply.
Our Advocacy in Action
Although each case is different, our goal is always the same: protect the groundwater our community relies on.
We protect your water, week after week.
Every week, a CMWC board member reviews new water rights applications filed with the state. Anything concerning gets flagged, discussed, and acted on. Here's where we focus our attention:
This work is only possible because of you.
CMWC runs entirely on community support. Your donation supports the monitoring, legal expertise, and advocacy that protects Chehalem Mountain's water — before it's gone. Every dollar goes directly to the work.
Donate by check or card · 501(c)(3) nonprofit · Donations are tax deductible