The population of Lane County is diverse and vibrant, reflecting a mix of cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles. The residents of Lane County, commonly referred to as "Laners are known for their welcoming and friendly nature. The cities within Lane County offer a blend of urban amenities and a close connection to nature, making it an attractive place to live for people who appreciate both the convenience of city life and the beauty of the surrounding landscapes (Lane County, 2023). The community in Lane County values sustainability, outdoor recreation, and cultural activities, fostering a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for residents and visitors alike (Eugene Cascades Coast, 2023).

Flooding
Lane County is susceptible to flooding that can cause damage to properties, infrastructure, and agricultural lands, posing risks to human response to this issue, the county implements measures such as floodplain management, levee systems, and early warning systems to mitigate the impact of floods and protect vulnerable areas. In 2021, a state of emergency was declared in Lane County after experiencing high temperatures and low rainfall for the year (Lane County Declares Drought Emergency. (2021, June 22)). This emergency was last declared in 2015, and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management helped add the county to receive emergency water use permits and other resources (Lane County declares drought emergency. (2021, June 22)). Drought has occasionally threatened resources every few decades, with another drought occurring in the winter of 2015 that caused a Springfield resident’s well to dry out (Drought taps out rural residents' source of water. (2005, May 26)).

Conservationists, including Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild, protested the 259-acre timber sale near Springfield by demanding the Bureau of Land Management redo its impact statement on the clear-cutting methods used in the sale (Conservation groups try to stop Lane County timber sale, saying it violates federal law. (2015, January 16)). Being the largest sale in Lane County within the past 20 years, old-growth trees were threatened as part of the sale, as found by the Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild lawsuit (Conservation groups try to stop Lane County timber sale, say it violates federal law. (2015, January 16)). The timber harvest is being pressured on the Bureau of Land Management by industries in Lane County and the government (BLM timber harvest plans displease Lane County commissioners. (2015, August 18)). Lane County’s revenue relies on timber harvests and has relied on them since the 1970s and 1980s, when the revenue was greater (BLM timber harvest plans displease Lane County commissioners. (2015, August 18)). No outcome was found on whether the protesters were able to stop the timber sale or not. Another protest occurred in 2021, where Cascadia Forest Defenders spoke out on the cutting of old-growth trees as part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Flat Country Project, a 4,438-acre area that is predicted to have impacts on the McKenzie River (Fighting Against the Forest Sale. (2021, September 15)). The protestors perched in these trees for about two weeks but will most likely return when the logging begins in the upcoming year of 2022 (Activists end timber sale protest but say the fight will continue. (2021, September 29)).

Groundwater wells

Arsenic occurs naturally underground due to volcanic activity, and it can be present in rocks, water, and as a gas (Arsenic Levels in Oregon Waters. (1977, August)); (Oregon Arsenic Discovery Could Lead To Cleaner Drinking Water. (2015, March 9)). Groundwater is mainly affected by Arsenic levels. The water form of Arsenic makes it dangerous for human consumption, although there are microbes that can transform it into a gas form, with the speculation that ethanol could increase the transformation rate (Oregon Arsenic Discovery Could Lead To Cleaner Drinking Water. (2015, March 9)). 

Dungeness crabs are popular along the Oregon and California Coast, earning about $170 million annually (Oregon commercial Dungeness crabbing season to open Jan. 15 after weekslong delay. (2023, January 7)). On around December 1st of every year, the season for these crabs opens, calling upon local fisheries and locals wanting to get the most before the crab populations are low (Oregon commercial Dungeness crabbing season to open Jan. 15 after weekslong delay (2023, January 7)). Since 2014, the opening for the crabbing season has been delayed, with 2023 starting on January 15 (Oregon commercial Dungeness crabbing season to open Jan. 15 after weekslong delay (2023, January 7)); (Dungeness Crab Season Delayed Further on Oregon Coast, Washington Coast. (2022, December 8)). Domoic acid, a toxin resulting from algal blooms, is harming and killing the crabs, making them unsafe for human consumption (Oregon commercial Dungeness crabbing season to open Jan. 15 after weekslong delay. (2023, January 7)). If crabs with domoic acid are cooked, it is recommended to discard the liquid used to cook the crab alongside its guts (Recreational crabbing OK along Lane County coast; Coquille River to California closed. (2017, December 5)).

The water system in Mapleton experienced a leak that would leave hundreds of residents without access to water (EWEB providing help for Mapleton's water woes. (2022, December 30)). Monetary issues made the leak difficult to fix. However, the Mapleton Food Share is offering free water sources alongside the city of Florence (City of Florence Extends Hand in Mapleton Water Crisis; Another Tree Pick-up Planned; Council Meeting. (2023, January 2)). The Eugene Water & Electric Board lent their staff and equipment to solve the leak until residents are able to use their water again (Mapleton water woes continue. (2022, December 2022)). This issue is common for Mapleton, with issues including water filters failing to treat drinking water (Taps run dry in Mapleton. (2021, November 16)).