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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 9.6pt; tab-stops: 8.0pt right 6.5in left 7.5in 8.0in 8.5in 9.0in 9.5in 10.0in 10.5in 11.0in 11.5in 12.0in 12.5in 13.0in" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">For Immediate Release<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 3pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: -1; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 12.7pt; WIDTH: 211pt; HEIGHT: 158.25pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 285.75pt" id=_x0000_s1026 wrapcoords="-35 0 -35 21554 21600 21554 21600 0 -35 0" type="#_x0000_t75"><FONT size=3><v:imagedata o:title="NikeCooleyIndianMaryDed" src="cid:IAGKPALKRNNM.clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></FONT></v:shape></H1>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">New Boat Ramp Named for Local Middle Rogue Steelheader <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN></B>A new boat ramp at Indian Mary Park opened in August, complete with four additional trailer spaces, a paved maneuvering area.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A new restroom will also be installed later this month.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This new and improved boating access facility may not have happened if it weren't for the efforts of a Middle Rogue River Steelheader, Mike Cooley.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Cooley witnessed the deterioration of the previous ramp due to weather, high use, and other environmental factors, as well as the inadequate restroom facilities for the volume of users, while working as a volunteer consultant for Josephine County Parks.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“The old launch has become unsafe to use in the fall during low water, during heavy use by fishermen," Cooley stated in a comprehensive letter to the Josephine County Commissioners in 2009.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With support for the project from the local Middle Rogue River Steelhead chapter of Trout Unlimited , Cooley did his research, finding out what needed to be done to make a new boat launch possible; everything from determining new location 250 feet downstream in a sheltered back-eddy, to the permit applications, the biological analyses, reviews, designs and costs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Cooley’s efforts gained support from nearly a dozen Federal and State agencies that needed to be involved with the in-water project due to the presence of endangered species.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">On September 7, the Indian Mary Park Boating Facility was dedicated, but with a surprise: the boat ramp was named, the “Mike Cooley Boat Launch.” “Naming the facility after Mike is only fitting,” said Wayne Shuyler, Boating Facilities Manager for the Oregon State Marine Board.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“He has been the catalyst behind this project every step of the way.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And icing on the proverbial cake, the boat launch is open in time for the fall Chinook salmon season, which should make every angler, especially Cooley, all a grin. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The old ramp was located in fast-moving water, and during low flows, boaters had to push off quite a distance to get into deeper water. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Cooley learned that the Josephine County Marine Patrol was unable to launch their jet boat safely in order to respond to boaters involved in accidents near Dunn Riffle, which only made the case to replace the old ramp even stronger and helped gain support from the Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Marine Board. </FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>The Josephine County Parks Department applied for and was awarded $58,000 in state boater funds from the Marine Board, $174,000 in federal Sport Fish Restoration funds administered through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife which was combined with $22,075 of in-kind contributions, $20,000 of applicant cash, and an additional $3,000 donation from the Middle Rogue River Steelhead chapter of Trout Unlimited.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The total approved project cost is $277,075.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The club also plans to do bank restoration with native plants.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The Rogue River is the sixth most used water body in Oregon. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Portions of the river are designated as a National Wild and Scenic River and a State Scenic Waterway.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Indian Mary Park is located in a section of river designated as recreation, rather than wild or scenic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The river is used by rafters and kayakers as well as jet boaters.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The boat ramp is considered a mixed-use site by the Oregon State Marine Board.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Noted for its whitewater, the rogue is also a popular fishery for summer and winter steelhead and fall Chinook salmon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The new boat launch takes advantage of existing rock structures in the bank that better shelter boaters, resulting in safer launching conditions. </FONT></P>
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<DIV>Ashley A. Massey<BR>Public Information Officer<BR>Oregon State Marine Board<BR>503-378-2623 (office)<BR>503-302-1049 (cell)</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:ashley.massey@state.or.us">ashley.massey@state.or.us</A><BR><A href="http://www.boatoregon.com/">www.boatoregon.com</A></DIV>
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