IT REALLY ISN'T PADDLERS VS POWER BOATERS

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.

At least twice the Oregonian (including a front page article Friday, August 14th, 2009) has served this issue up as one in which the paddlers have "lost out".

Link to the article: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/08/paddlers_vs_powerbo...

Comments by the original petitioners have colored it this way because they need a means of capturing support from even those that do not use the waterway. To claim that they are interested in boater safety is absurd, especially when, since the OSMB vote, even they have chastised those in the paddle community (their primary supporters) that want to meet with the motorized boat community to reach some kind of middle ground on the usage of the river. They have chosen, to date, to say they will NOT support any compromises that may be found between paddlers and power boaters, and have even put out emails that would seem to be an effort to undermine the ongoing work of people on both sides to come up with some kind of usage plan for the river.

This truly is not a case of the paddlers losing out. Really, the overwhelming support for the original proposal by the paddlers and the testimonies heard from both sides is what has created this push from those that are willing to look for a compromise. The power boaters themselves now realize the issues that exist for the growing numbers of paddlers on the river, and even though the OSMB voted in what appears to be their favor, the power boaters have come to the table in an effort to find a solution. It is clear that the radical sides of this issue will keep pushing for all or nothing solutions which will only work for one side or the other. The only workable solution is going to be for the paddlers and power boaters to find some common ground to make things better on the river. It can't be one side getting everything.

To achieve this compromise, the first of what will probably be several meetings and discussions is going to be taking place with both groups to see where we have common ground. The Boaters' Rights Coalition of Oregon will continue to support the rights of all waterway users as the search for workable waterway management evolves. Let's not let the environmentalist groups pit the waterway users against each other for their own gain. Let's work on this issue from the standpoint of solving the usage and safety issues as they affect us as boaters.

Should anyone have ideas on finding a compromise solution, please add your comments.

Thank you.
Boaters' Rights Coalition of Oregon