[OSMB-News] News Release -Marine Board Opens Rulemaking for Siletz River, Other Items

[Massey, Ashley]

For Immediate Release                    Date: Friday, March 22, 2013

Marine Board Opens Rulemaking for Siletz River, Other Items

              The Oregon State Marine Board initiated rulemaking for the Siletz River in Lincoln County, approved a slow-no-wake zone in the artificial lagoon at the mouth of Hood River and a grant for summer boat ramp improvements with work done in partnership with the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps.
The Marine Board will initiate rulemaking for the Siletz River in response to user concerns that the intent of a 1987 rule has been muted by larger propeller-driven boats being able to operate in the shallow water.  Motorboats are allowed on the entire Siletz River, however; jet motors have been prohibited above Morgan Park since 1987 to address user conflict concerns between larger fast-moving watercraft and drift boats limited to downstream travel.  Over the years, large powerboats with propeller-driven outboard motors started transiting upstream from Morgan Park, but can only do so by traveling at higher speeds and at certain water flows.  After more than a year of studying the use patterns and meeting with local waterway managers and boaters, staff requested that the Marine Board initiate rulemaking to consider a 10 horsepower limit above Morgan Park.  The Marine Board will hold public hearings in May in Lincoln City to gather public input.
            The Board also approved a slow-no-wake zone on the Columbia River in the small artificial lagoon, as marked by the Port of Hood River, immediately to the west of the mouth and Nichols boat basin.  The lagoon is adjacent to a large parking lot and is the launch point for personal watercraft, kite boarders and windsurfers.  Hundreds of users operate in this confined area on busy summer days.
            The Board also conditionally approved a grant for the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (OYCC) for $71,072 in state boater funds and $135,020 in applicant in-kind match for a total of $206,092 pending the agency's 2013-2015 budget approval by the Oregon Legislature.  This grant would fall under Round One grant awards for the 2013-2015 biennium.  Through this grant, 58 youth will be employed to accomplish minor improvements at boat launch sites for 37 parks on 16 waterbodies in Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Douglas, Hood River, Josephine, Lane and Lincoln Counties.  OYCC's summer youth projects begin July 1, 2013.
            The Marine Board is funded by motorboat titling and registration fees, federal grants and fuel tax.  The revenue generated provides grants for launch ramps, parking and restrooms, boating education, and contracted marine law enforcement by 32 county Sheriff's offices and the Oregon State Police.  Specialty programs that the Marine Board administers, such as the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, are also self-funded.  Revenue generated by the AIS permit fees pays for mandatory boat inspection stations, trained inspectors, decontamination equipment, signage and other educational outreach materials.
###


Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
Ashley.massey at state.or.us<mailto:Ashley.massey at state.or.us>

[cid:image001.jpg at 01CC4556.A6D3E3B0]<http://www.boatoregon.com/>  [Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: http://static.technorati.com/10/09/17/18465/Facebook-icon.png] <http://www.facebook.com/boatoregon>    [Description: Description: http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/thumbs/www/articles_2009_10_09/twitter_logo_300x300.jpg?1273889336] <http://twitter.com/marineboard>    [YouTubeIconeMail] <http://www.youtube.com/user/MarineBoard>



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20130322/a5d9c789/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1870 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20130322/a5d9c789/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 4127 bytes
Desc: image002.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20130322/a5d9c789/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1288 bytes
Desc: image003.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20130322/a5d9c789/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1272 bytes
Desc: image004.jpg
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/osmb-news/attachments/20130322/a5d9c789/attachment-0002.jpg>