The Corvallis Watershed is located approximately 16 miles west of Corvallis off Highway 34 on Mary’s Peak. It consists of approximately 10,000 acres and supplies the city with almost half its annual water needs. The City owns about one-fourth of the total watershed. The bulk of the remaining acreage is managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS). The City began purchasing properties in the Watershed in the early 1900's and has been using it as a source of drinking water supply since that time. In 1920, the City of Corvallis convinced the USFS to purchase the remainder of the land in the Mary’s Peak drainage. Congress declared it a municipal watershed and closed to the public for the protection of the water supply.

Use of the Corvallis Watershed is limited by the City of Corvallis and the USFS for protection of the municipal water supply and the timber resource. However, a closed watershed provides excellent opportunities for controlled studies in forestry, hydrology, botany and other disciplines which need areas or subjects protected from outside interference. The Corvallis Watershed has been used frequently by local schools and colleges, fish and wildlife researches, and the USFS for these types of studies.

For more information bout the Watershed, contact Public Works at 541-766-6916.