Richard MargerumHiller, Rachel2019-11-072019-11-072018https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2507873 pagesThree evolutionarily significant units of coho salmon are listed as threatened on the Oregon coast. In response, the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (1997) was developed to provide action measures to support salmonid health statewide. One of these measures is to provide voluntary restoration on private lands containing salmon priority habitat. The plan requires effective conservation programs that meet the needs of both landowners and conservation goals. An important part of this is maximizing landowner participation and developing lasting, trusting relationships with landowners. In this study, I examined conservation programs funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) in two coastal regions. My goal was to identify the barriers and benefits to landowner participation. This was achieved by interviewing watershed council and soil and water conservation district (SWCD) staff in those regions to understand their perceptions. I developed recommendations based on the outcomes of those interviews and prioritized based on needs and ease of implementation. My results indicated that there are landowners who do not perceive conservation programs as incentivized enough to participate. Many landowners feel a mistrust towards regulatory agencies and program structures are often incongruent with landowner needs and abilities. Watershed council capacity issues were also recognized as affecting landowner engagement at times. Landowner benefits were cited as often being indirect, rather than direct, and while landowners generally want to help coho, they do not want to risk losing their autonomy over the management of their land. Recommendations focus on maximizing benefits for both landowners and environmental resources. My intent is to promote conservation programs as mutually beneficial to increase landowner engagement, improve coho success, and improve relations between citizens and organizations and agencies.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USconservationwatershed councilsincentivesmutual benefitsTerminal Project