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!

Willamette River Boating Survey

The City of Portland is trying to get feedback on river usage for a new plan that will affect everyone in how we are able to enjoy the recreational usage of our river. It is important that we all take the time to complete this survey if we want to preserve our rights on the Willamette River. Please access the link below to complete your survey.

This is a new program Portland is developing which could create new issues for us in the future if we don’t keep up to date with it. The survey period closes May 6, so please take the 5 minutes needed to provide your comments.

Willamette River Boating Survey - PLEASE TAKE A SECOND AND FILL IT OUT. Important we provide out general boating uses.

Willamette River Boating Survey

The City of Portland is updating its plans for river-based recreation—and wants to better understand trends, needs, and priorities relating to recreating on the Willamette River as it flows through the city.

To find out more about river users’ recreational experiences and needs, Portland Parks and Recreation and the Rivers Office are inviting the boating public to take an on-line survey. The survey is designed for people who currently boat on the river in Portland and takes between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. The survey will close on May 6th.

April 2011 Agenda for the OSMB Board Meeting.

A few different proposals on the table effecting Portland Metro. See attachments....

Two proposals to pay attention to:

OAR 250-020-0280 - An 500 foot rule the entire width of the willamette river for the Tri-Met bridge project around the Ross Island Bridge. Proposal Slow No Wake

OAR 250-020-0032 - Also the board is reviewing a 100 foot No Wake Zone in Lake Oswego around their new transient dock at foothills park.

Every Meeting the OSMB reviews potential closures in our cities and public waterways. Please check back as we will do our best to keep you up to date...

The fight for Boaters Rights finding its self on the State Capital stage today. Bill 743 was reviewed by committee at the State Capital.

Bill 743 was clearly a safety net sent to stage by Senator Dingfelder late 2010 in preparation of the OSMB over ruling the 3rd attempt of the Holgate No-Wake-Zone proposal in Feb 2011. Actually the senator got her way Feb 2011 the OSMB accepted the proposal of the staff recommendation and enacted un-factual No-Wake-Zone for the southern section of the Holgate channel a display of giving up by OSMB board members.

Senator Dingfelder presents Bill 933 that abolishes the Oregon State Marine Board and transfers its powers to State Parks and Recreation Department. Effective Immediately!

This is the same Senator that put pressures on the OSMB earlier this month which resulted in the Slow No Wake Zone in Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon ending our 2 year fight. This is the 3rd boating closure in the Portland Metro area in the last 3 years where politicians have been able to Control the OSMB rule making processes. WHERE DOES IT STOP WITH OUT OSMB?

Seems Senator Dingfelder is using her political powers trying to disolve the OSMB frankly to direct the marine board funds to State Parks and Recreation Department WHO WILL HAVE NO INTEREST in protecting the general boating community.

THIS HAS BECOME A STATE WIDE ISSUE AND WE NEED EVERYONES HELP TO STOP THIS..... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTIVE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OPOSING THIS SET OF BILLS TO BE VOTED DOWN...

To read further details, including complete language, hearings, or status regarding the legislation click on the attached link. http://www.leg.state.or.us/searchmeas.html

MARINE BOARD VOTES FOR SLOW-NO-WAKE WITHIN HOLGATE CHANNEL

In case you didn't already get this email or hear from one of your friends, you will no longer be able to ski or wakeboard in the channel behind Ross Island or the Ross Island Lagoon.

Just like with the Upper Willamette rulemaking, common sense and facts were ignored, and one group of water users was given preferential treatment over others without any substantiated reason for the rulemaking.

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE CHANNEL...

It seems there was a problem with the link to view the OSMB staff report and recommendation for the OSMB meeting to revote on a closure of Holgate Channel in the last newsletter. Here is a new link to view that report:

http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/admin/docs/2-2011HolgateReport.pdf

I KNOW THIS IS VERY SHORT NOTICE, BUT YOU CAN LEND YOUR SUPPORT BY ATTENDING THE HEARING FEBRUARY 17, 2011, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm AT THE PORTLAND BUILDING AUDITORIUM, 1120 SW FIFTH AVE, PORTLAND OR.

RULEMAKING VOTE ON HOLGATE CHANNEL

In case you haven't gotten the email blast there is a vote on Thursday for the Holgate Channel:

The following link connects to a posting on the OSMB Web page Rulemaking & Hearings/ Notice of Rulemaking: 2011HolgateReport labeled Staff Report. This is a copy of the staff report that will be presented to the Marine Board on Thursday, February 17, 2011, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Portland Building Auditorium, 1120 SW Fifth Ave, Portland OR.

http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/admin/docs/2-2011HolgateReport.pdf

Once Again a Call to the Public to fight Another Proposed Rule concering Holgate Channel behind Ross Island 3rd revote in 2 Years

The following Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Hearings will be posted in the February 2011 edition of the Oregon Bulletin published by the Oregon Secretary of State. Please see attachment.

These notices outline the agency’s intent to amend the following rules:

Kayaker Capsizes in the almost Freezing Willamette river water December 19th and had to be rescued by Portland Fire River Rescue boats.

No other Boats around a Kayaker found himself capsized between OMSI and Ross Island going num not able to pull himself out of the almost freezing water had to be rescued by Portland Fire River rescue.

This 2010/2011 winter season looks to be long and cold one ahead. If you are going to enter the water ways this winter make sure you have the proper gear and safety equipment. It is also a good idea to tell a friend about your plan while in the water to give rescues staffs a head start in looking for you just in case something was to happen.

Full Story from News Medias:

OSMB October 2010 Meeting Minutes... Must Read....

Here are the meeting minutes from the last meeting in October along with the agenda for the next meeting in January 2011…. Must take a look!

OSMB IS AT IT AGAIN

Randy Henry is quoted in the article below “The plan is not a way of trying to register the estimated 100,000 non-motorized boats 10 feet or longer in Oregon or requiring their owners to pay fees.”

Read This: http://www.katu.com/outdoors/active/108266469.html

Mr. Henry continues to double speak. We simply don’t understand the disfunction at the Oregon State Marine Board and why they continue to have so much riding with a guy that is so wishy washy.

Just last month the OSMB was accused of abused budgets and were outside legislative spending guidelines. 100,000 paddle craft to pay registration fees like all other power craft fixes allot of budget problems don’t you think? The issues continue to landslide.

First it was Waldo Lake, then the Newberg Pool between Canby and Newberg, then the Inside Ross Island, and now they are continuing efforts to CLOSE the Holgate Channel. Which section of river or body of water will be next right in your back yard?

Please help support the movement to keep our waterways open for all in the State of Oregon and stand up for your own rights and join our collective cause and continued efforts.

TAKING IT TO THE COURTS

After playing "nice" for nearly two years as our state's government has pushed an agenda that has limited our rights as boaters, we're going to have to "take off the gloves" and turn this into a legal battle....

New Press Release 11/19/2010 from the OSMB No-Wake-Zone Regardless of facts.

The Latest news about the No-Wake-Zone, in addition to new proposal for No Wake Enhancing Devices now proposed for the Holgate Channel.

Help us and get your voice heard. Attached is the contact as the OSMB and a address where you can send you public comments starting December 1st 2010...

Feed Back wanted from the OSMB please take a second to fill out the short OSMB Servey

Below was is a request of the OSMB asking boaters for feed back. Most of the meetings listed are over but you can provide your feed back via a online servey...

Follow this Link: http://library.state.or.us/services/surveys/survey.php?sid=837

Legal begins... BRCO has retained the law firm, Brownstein, Rask, Sweeney, Kerr, Grim & Hay, LLP

Today our legal counsel published a letter to the OSMB for their Annual October board meeting being held in Bend today and tomorrow (18th & 19th). The letter is a fact based stance concerning the latest agenda topic (G) in the meeting press release send out last week. Agenda (G) is calling for additional closure and no-wake-zones in and around Ross Island and the Holgate channel in addition to a NEW ban for wake enhancing devices.

October 19th Bend Meeting, The Actual Staff Report and Recommendation for Holgate Channel

After months of the BRCofO attending a part of the 12 person Holgate Channel working group the room was still divided 6 to 6 at the final meeting so the decision goes back to the OSMB Staff to come up with its recommendation.

Attached PDF is the Report that the OSMB staff have put together that will be presented to the Board on October 19th.
This being a complete loss and blow to collective waters sports and boating community. MUST READ!

Hiding in Bend...

If you haven't already heard, the Oregon State Marine Board is scheduled to vote on rulemaking for the Holgate Channel October 19th in Bend at the River House Resort, 3075 N Highway 97, Bend, Oregon.

The Holgate Channel Stand Off Continues.. Read latest from the marine board...

This is a letter addressed to the Working Group members the BRC of O sat on...

Working Group Members:

The Oregonian, despite having all this information, chose to ignore the bulk of it. Following is a list of activities from the Board Meeting this week. FYI - the items that were widely supported within the working group will be implemented ASAP. The rule making process will begin this fall.

Immediate Action:

Interesting Facts about Motorized Boating Traffic in the Holgate channel.

Over the course of the last year many claims have been made that Motorized Boating is causing bank issues in the holgate channel.

Proof that this is not the case provided by Andrew Jansky...

See the attached picture from 1957 and again in 2009