WHAT'S HAPPENING...

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.

The newest in this growing list of intervention is with Waldo Lake. Please login to the BRC of Oregon website www.saveboatersrights.com and read the article "WALDO LAKE - The Next Target" to get the facts. Also, I encourage everyone to send an email or letter to the OSMB in oposition to the proposed regulations for Waldo Lake. And even stronger I urge you all to take the time to email the OSMB about your displeasure in the fact that the Governor's office seems to be the "chairperson" to their board in the recent actions they have taken.

Direct your comments to:

email: osmb.rulemaking@state.or.us
Snail Mail: June LeTarte
OSMB
PO Box 14145
Salem, OR 97309

Deadline for written comments on the Waldo Lake issue is: December 15th. A decision will likely be made at the January OSMB Metting.

THERE IS NO DEADLINE FOR SENDING YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS REGARDING THE OSMB AND THEIR LACK OF AUTONOMY TO PROVIDE UNBIASED REGULATIONS.

Also, for those that didn't hear, the OSMB (pusuant to the Governor's pressure) revisited the Holgate Channel/Ross Island issue. At the last OSMB meeting, regulations were issued that limited Ross Island Lagoon to a no-wake zone. The Holgate Channel was left "a work-in-progress" as some authority to come up with a workable solution for the area was granted by the OSMB to the ad-hoc group that was formed after the initial OSMB meetings on the area. Parties from the environmental groups, paddling community, yachting community, fishermen and recreational boaters are looking for compromise solutions that allow everyone access to this area. So, as things develop regarding the channel, we will definitely keep everyone in the loop as to what is going on and how you can stay involved in the process.

In addition, the last OSMB meeting saw the Governor's office block an attempt by the OSMB to put a moratorium on new regulations restricting waterway usage except in safety related situations. This was the Marine Board's attempt to stop the Governor's intereference in their operation. However, he would have none of it, and the item was removed without consideration.

As for the BRC of Oregon itself, we have just renewed with the State of Oregon and paid some legal fees that we had regarding a review of the issues surrounding the restrictions for the upper Willamette. To that end, I expect there to be a continued need for your financial support as we now have to battle in the political and legal arenas versus a field of common sense and fact. Please donate anything you can to the cause.

Lastly, please make sure you let us know of anything going on anywhere that we should be aware of as a group. You can clearly see that this is solely a political game now and facts have nothing to do with the OSMB's regulatory authority with our current Governor. So, let's continue to grow our membership and create a group that the OSMB and Governor's office cannot ignore when looking at future regulatory changes.

Thank you.