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Luckiamute Watershed Council

EIN 45-2177036 · Independence, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL'S (COUNCIL) PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ENGAGE AND ASSIST LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE VOLUNTARY PROTECTION, RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE LUCKIAMUTE AND ASH CREEK WATERSHEDS.

Income
$552,204
Spending
$643,569
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
5
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$85,000, exec directo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $393,222 spent. RESTORATION PROGRAM: DURING FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025, THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL WORKED ALONG 10.53 MILES OF ASH CREEK, THE LUCKIAMUTE RIVER, AND VARIOUS TRIBUTARIES TO IMPLEMENT HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND IMPROVED WATER QUALITY. THESE PROJECTS INVOLVED PREPARING 55 ACRES FOR FUTURE PLANTINGS, PLANTING OR INTER-PLANTING 22,600 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS ON 54.24 ACRES AND STEWARDING 237.7 TOTAL ACRES OF REVEGETATION ACROSS 25 PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND OWNERSHIPS.
  2. $75,907 spent. MONITORING / ASSESSMENT / PLANNING: DURING FY 2025, THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL CONTINUED ITS LONG-RUNNING TEMPERATURE MONITORING PROGRAM, COLLECTING WATER TEMPERATURE DATA AT 33 LOCATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE STATUS OF LOCAL STREAMS AND TO INFORM PROJECT PLANNING. THE LWC MAINTAINED AND UPDATED ITS ONLINE DATA VISUALIZATION WEB APPLICATION TO FACILITATE INCREASED ACCESS TO AND SHARING OF THE DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE MONITORING PROGRAM. THE LWC ALSO CONDUCTED ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (EDNA) SAMPLING AT 14 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED TO MEASURE THE PRESENCE OF TARGETED AQUATIC SPECIES (INCLUDING WESTERN PEARLSHELL, WESTERN RIDGED MUSSEL, STEELHEAD,COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, PACIFIC LAMPREY, WESTERN POND TURTLE, OREGON FLOATER, AND CALIFORNIA FLOATER) FOR INFORMING RESTORATION WORK. MONITORING / ASSESSMENT / PLANNING: DURING FY 2025, THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL CONTINUED ITS LONG-RUNNING TEMPERATURE MONITORING PROGRAM, COLLECTING WATER TEMPERATURE DATA AT 33 LOCATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE STATUS OF LOCAL STREAMS AND TO INFORM PROJECT PLANNING. THE LWC MAINTAINED AND UPDATED ITS ONLINE DATA VISUALIZATION WEB APPLICATION TO FACILITATE INCREASED ACCESS TO AND SHARING OF THE DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE MONITORING PROGRAM. THE LWC ALSO CONDUCTED ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (EDNA) SAMPLING AT 14 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED TO MEASURE THE PRESENCE OF TARGETED AQUATIC SPECIES (INCLUDING WESTERN PEARLSHELL, WESTERN RIDGED MUSSEL, STEELHEAD,COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, PACIFIC LAMPREY, WESTERN POND TURTLE, OREGON FLOATER, AND CALIFORNIA FLOATER) FOR INFORMING RESTORATION WORK.
  3. $55,611 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: DURING FY 2025 THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL HOSTED OR CO-HOSTED 17 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS WITH A TOTAL OF 634 PARTICIPANTS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE A SPANISH LANGUAGE BIRD WALK ALONG ASH CREEK, DRAGONFLY ECOLOGY FIELD TOUR AT A RESTORATION PROJECT SITE, "SIPS 'N' SCIENCE" TALKS FEATURING OUR MONITORING PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND A FUNGI AND FOREST FORAY LED BY AN OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FORESTER. DURING 2025, RECORDED EVENTS, PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS, AND OTHER OUTREACH AND EDUCATION VIDEOS WERE VIEWED ON YOUTUBE 3,972 TIMES. IN ADDITION TO OUR OUTREACH-CENTERED EVENTS, THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL HOSTED 24 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HANDS-ON WATERSHED RESTORATION AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES. A TOTAL OF 181 VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED TRASH PICK-UPS, PLANTING EVENTS, INVASIVE WEED PULLS AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WATERSHED, DEDICATING APPROXIMATELY 453 HOURS IN TOTAL. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: DURING FY 2025 THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL HOSTED OR CO-HOSTED 17 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS WITH A TOTAL OF 634 PARTICIPANTS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE A SPANISH LANGUAGE BIRD WALK ALONG ASH CREEK, DRAGONFLY ECOLOGY FIELD TOUR AT A RESTORATION PROJECT SITE, "SIPS 'N' SCIENCE" TALKS FEATURING OUR MONITORING PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND A FUNGI AND FOREST FORAY LED BY AN OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FORESTER. DURING 2025, RECORDED EVENTS, PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS, AND OTHER OUTREACH AND EDUCATION VIDEOS WERE VIEWED ON YOUTUBE 3,972 TIMES. IN ADDITION TO OUR OUTREACH-CENTERED EVENTS, THE LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL HOSTED 24 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HANDS-ON WATERSHED RESTORATION AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES. A TOTAL OF 181 VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED TRASH PICK-UPS, PLANTING EVENTS, INVASIVE WEED PULLS AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WATERSHED, DEDICATING APPROXIMATELY 453 HOURS IN TOTAL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2016.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.