2020 Map of Sand Lake

About this map

Cape Lookout dominates this coastal landscape, extending westward into the Pacific Ocean and providing a natural anchor for the surrounding ecosystem. This 2020 topographic record highlights the complex hydrology of the region, where numerous small waterways like Big Medicine Cr and Hathaway Cr drain from the high ridges of the Siuslaw National Forest toward the shore. The interior of the coastline features significant estuarine environments, most notably Sand Lake and Whalen Island, which are critical habitats protected in part by the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The settlement of Sandlake sits at a junction of inland roads, while the coastal community of Tierra Del Mar occupies the narrow strip of land between the dunes and the sea. This modern survey demonstrates the balance between managed forest lands and sensitive coastal wetlands along the southern edges of Netarts Bay.