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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:9.6pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For Immediate Release              Date: Thursday, July 24, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Marine Board Urges Boaters to Keep a Sharp Lookout on Area Rivers and Lakes
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result of less snow pack and lower rainfall amounts this winter, many Oregon lakes and rivers will be reaching historically low levels which will expose previously unseen hazards to boaters this summer. 
 Stumps, rocks, logs and other obstructions could be just below the surface, resulting in hull or prop damage in areas that are normally navigable. These obstructions also impact the water dynamics and the currents in rivers, which can increase the difficulty
 to navigate safely, especially for paddlecraft.  The Marine Board urges boaters to plan ahead and take the time to scout area waterways before launching your boat. 
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">            “No matter where you boat, most of our rivers and lakes will have obstructions that may not have been a problem earlier in the summer.” says Ashley
 Massey, Public Information Officer at the Oregon State Marine Board.  “Water levels are changing quickly, so boaters need to assess the waterway each time they go boating.”  Boaters can check the Marine Board
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/safety/navigation_hazards.aspx">website</a> to see what’s been previously reported, but that does not take the place of scouting ahead once at the river, and having a plan if you do encounter an obstruction you cannot
 safely navigate or portage around. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Trees, root wads and other natural debris are a common part of Oregon's rivers and streams, providing important ecological benefits
 such as fish habitat, sediment removal, etc. and can be very dangerous to boaters. Deadheads (old pilings or logged tree stumps) may lie just below the surface, so keep a close watch for subtle changes in the water's surface.  Strainers (trees hanging out
 from the bank) can trap a boat and the current could force it underwater.  Keep a sharp look out downstream and use a quick-release anchor system for just such emergencies.  Motorized boaters should operate carefully and pay particular attention to the surface
 dynamics ahead of where they’re headed, especially while on-plane.  <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">If paddling on rivers with whitewater rapids, any rapids designated as a
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/pages/news/lifejacketlaw.aspx" title="Class III or higher">Class III or higher</a><span style="color:black">, boaters are required to wear a properly fitting, U.S.
 Coast Guard approved life jacket.      <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Not sure where to put in or take out?  Visit the Marine Board’s Boating Access Map to help plan your trip at
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/pages/access/access.aspx#Where_to_Launch_in_Oregon">http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/pages/access/access.aspx#Where_to_Launch_in_Oregon</a><span style="color:black">. 
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">For reported navigation obstructions, visit
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/safety/navigation_hazards.aspx">http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/safety/navigation_hazards.aspx</a><span style="color:black">.</span><b>   
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">###</span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Photo: Obstructions located on the North Santiam near Jefferson. 
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ashley A. Massey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Oregon State Marine Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">503-378-2623<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Ashley.massey@state.or.us"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:blue">Ashley.massey@state.or.us</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.boatoregon.com">www.boatoregon.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/boatoregon">www.facebook.com/boatoregon</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/marineboard">www.twitter.com/marineboard</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/marineboard">www.youtube.com/marineboard</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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