Boaters’ Rights Coalition of Oregon
Protecting the rights of Recreational Boaters through Organization Education and Action
Help us fight for our rights to boat freely and responsibly in Oregon!

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD...

Posted Sun, 02/07/2010 - 10:48 by Anonymous

Anyone and everyone that is concerned with the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon waterway usage should contact June LeTarte, Executive Assistant to the Director, Oregon State Marine Board as soon as possible!

She is collecting contact telephone numbers of representative members on the issue of the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon.

June LeTarte (503)378-2617 june.letarte@state.or.us

BOAT SHOW TIME

Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 20:45 by Darren Holsey

It's that time of year again when all the new boatmakers, watersports vendors, fishing outfitters and water related businesses get to show off their stuff.

WHAT'S HAPPENING...

Posted Mon, 11/09/2009 - 14:50 by Anonymous

What's going on with everything now that the boating season has slowed down? Well, we're still seeing the same intervention by the Governor's office regarding the OSMB. First the upper Willamette, then the Holgate Channel/Ross Island and now Waldo Lake are seeing our Governor interfere in the rulemaking process of the OSMB to the detriment of boating enthusiasts. I have to question the reason we even have a board for rulemaking when the Governor's office has been able to create "re-votes" and "re-opening" of issues already heard by the OSMB whenever it sees fit.

WALDO LAKE - The Next Target

Posted Mon, 11/09/2009 - 14:22 by Darren Holsey

Here is a copy of a letter sent to the Oregon State Marine Board regarding the newest "re-vote" on a previous regulation voted down that would have limited boaters' rights. Waldo Lake, though not a motorsport lake, is facing the same sort of unsubstantiated minority pressure to have its use limited by the OSMB as we've seen on the upper and lower Willamette river. Please take the time to send a letter to the OSMB in opposition to another in a growing list of injustices done to the boating community.

Breaking News! OSMB to revote on the No-Wake-Zone proposals that were voted down in July over the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon. We need your help! Read Below to see what you can do...

Posted Tue, 10/06/2009 - 16:45 by Aaron Jarvis
Even though on July 27th 2009 the OSMB rejected the No-Wake-Zone proposals for the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon, it is clear that this point is far from being over! Below is the public release sent out from the Oregon State Marine Board over the last few days. Read it, and you will see that the original proposal for a No-Wake-Zone has been put back on the table for review and possible approval at the next OSMB meeting October 13th 2009 in Bend.

Member Update August 31st 2009

Posted Mon, 08/31/2009 - 19:39 by Aaron Jarvis

As we all know on the 27th of July the OSMB voted against the “No Wake Zone” proposal in the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon. Some considered this a win, but we know this is the farthest thing from a win. Simply this agenda has been tabled temporally.

After the vote, we, the coalition along with a few others, began to open the doors of communication with the paddle community, the pleasure boaters, yacht community, fishing and other special interest groups alike.

A special "Thank You" to everyone at www.pdxWAKE.com, and we're getting down to business...

Posted Wed, 08/19/2009 - 15:07 by Aaron Jarvis

Today we received a $500 donation from pdxWAKE.com, the donation was part of the proceeds from their raffle at the Wake-Up event in the Ross Island Lagoon in July.

“Thank you to all that purchased a raffle ticket at the Wake Up event last month!”

IT REALLY ISN'T PADDLERS VS POWER BOATERS

Posted Fri, 08/14/2009 - 11:37 by Darren Holsey

Ever since the special OSMB hearing regarding the use of the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon, there has been an ongoing depiction that this is a paddlers versus power boaters issue. As much as it seems this way, as both groups have a lot at stake in the decisions made regarding this area of the river, it really is a case of the original petitioners trying to use this "angle" to garner support for a closure of the area to anything but non-motorized craft.

Congratulations to all…. Huge Success with our combined efforts.... OSMB sides with the boating community and leaves Ross Island open to all boats, motorized and non-motorized.

Posted Tue, 07/28/2009 - 00:51 by Aaron Jarvis

A special THANK YOU to everyone that got involved and gave vital testimony in tonight’s meeting that made a difference in the outcome with the OSMB Board Members in the final vote.

The common focus tonight at the Special OSMB Meeting held down town Portland concerning Ross Island and Holgate channel among the boating community was education and compromise as the first step instead of the closure proposal presented to the City of Portland and the OSMB earlier this year by the paddle enthusiast.

NEWSLETTER JULY 2009 - LET'S KEEP THE BALL ROLLING

Posted Mon, 07/27/2009 - 22:19 by Darren Holsey

I hope everyone has heard the "good" news that the Oregon State Marine Board rejected the proposed restriction of the use of Ross Island Lagoon and the Holgate Channel. In a special hearing, the OSMB allowed a few speakers to provide additional comments on the subject. The Boaters' Rights Coalition of Oregon was represented as well as several of our members spoke. It was this testimony in the comments of the OSMB that helped sway the vote (3 to 2) in our favor.