About Us

Our Story

Established in the mid 1990s, five independent Watershed Councils were formed to represent each distinct watershed in Lake County. The Councils (made up of local residents) assisted landowners with watershed projects to improve and promote watershed health. Over time, the Councils merged to become the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council.

With the aid of many partners, the Council plans, secures grant funding, implements, and monitors watershed restoration and enhancement projects.

Our Mission

The Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council strives to promote cooperative, holistic restoration across jurisdictional boundaries to better Lake County's watersheds and people.  

Our Lake County Home

Lake County is made up of multiple, diverse watersheds, each of which have characteristics the State of Oregon recognizes as having priority significance. These characteristics provide the foundation for our restoration and enhancement efforts. Understanding and appreciating our working landscape in Lake County, we help design and implement projects that are beneficial to the land, water, and wildlife...but to the landowner as well.

Council/Board of Directors

Tom O'Leary, Chair, Silver Lake Community Watershed 

Matt Withers, Upper Sycan Watershed

Jack O'Leary, Chewaucan Watershed

John Taylor, Warner Basin Watershed

Pete Talbott, Goose Lake Watershed

Roger Linton, Crooked Creek Watershed

Contracted Staff

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Autumn Larkins

Colleen Withers

Autumn Larkins

Project Manager, Uplands Coordinator

Autumn lives in Lakeview, Oregon with her fiance and their family. She brings over 20 years of experience as a Wildlife Biologist to her contracted position with the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council.  Autumn consults, secures funding, plans/designs, and manages implementation for all activities surrounding forest health and uplands restoration/enhancement. She also continues to represent the LCUWC on the Lake County Cooperative Weed Management Area Board. 

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Brandi Neider

Colleen Withers

Autumn Larkins

Project Manager, Stream & Riparian Coordinator

Brandi lives in Lakeview, Oregon where she works as a contractor for the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council. She also works alongside her husband and kids on her family's cattle ranch. Brandi consults, secures funding, plans/designs, and manages implementation for all activities surrounding stream and riparian restoration or enhancement. She also represents the LCUWC on the Network of Oregon Watershed Council Board. 

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Colleen Withers

Colleen Withers

Colleen Withers

Program Manager, Fiscal Administrator

Colleen lives in Paisley, Oregon where she works part time as a contractor for the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council and part-time with her husband and daughter on their cattle ranch. Colleen is responsible for Council coordination, website development,  youth and adult education programs, as well as the Council's fiscal activities /bookkeeping.  

Our Partners

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