Date: Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 |
For Immediate Release |
Contacts
Mandatory Boater Education Program Begins Taking Shape
Boaters got a first look at Oregon's new Mandatory Boater Education Program during the Oregon State Marine Board meeting, held in Bend on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Other issues addressed during the meeting included proposed boating speed changes on the Tualatin River, a temporary closure on a small portion of the upper Deschutes River, and a grant for a fuel station at the Port of Bandon.
The meeting was also the first for two new Marine Board members. Joining the board for her first meeting since her June appointment was Louise Gatlin, of Portland, an officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and avid boater for many years. New board member Randy Cummings, of Tygh Valley, was appointed in August. He rejoins the board after a four-year absence, serving for two terms from 1987 to 1995.
Tualatin River Speed Proposal (also, see Board Report)
Boaters and residents along the Tualatin River have a new proposal to consider regarding boat speed and operation limits on this narrow, winding urban river. The proposal is the second step in a process that began with a petition filed with the Marine Board in April.
The original proposal, filed by the Tualatin Riverkeepers, asked for a "slow-no wake" designation for the entire river. Board staff found this proposal too sweeping and unenforceable, and recommended the following alternative approach:
The Tualatin River winds through Washington and Clackamas county through mostly urban and suburban developments. It's a small river that provides convenient water access for wildlife viewers, canoers, kayakers and powerboaters. Petitioners argued that high-speed boat use was dangerous to manually powered craft and swimmers, and damaged docks and shoreline vegetation. Their proposal sought a "slow-no wake" zone throughout the Washington and Clackamas county section of the river.
After holding a public meeting and collecting public comment on the petition, Marine Board staff concluded that high-speed operation in the small river is generally not necessary, and certainly waterskiing is not a safe activity on the river. Still, certain portions of the river should not be held to a slow-no wake limit, preventing boaters from moving up and down the river more quickly with little risk to the environment or other river users. The Marine Board's proposal is based on a middle ground of not encouraging high-speed operation on the more developed part of the river while providing a seasonal separation between paddlers and power boaters on the upper portion of the river.
The public is encouraged to comment on each of the proposal's points. "The Board members are interested in the dates and deadlines for the proposed seasonal closure." said Wayne Shuyler, the Marine Board's Assistant Director. "We also want to hear about the impact of the water-skiing prohibition and the speed limit around docks. This is no longer a proposal to put a speed limit on the entire river so we would like feedback on these alternative approaches."
The comment period will end Jan. 31, 2000. Comments should be forwarded to the Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309, via e-mail at Marine.Board@state.or.us, or via fax at (503) 378-4597. Additional information will be available at the Marine Board web site, www.osmb.state.or.us, after Nov. 1.
Temporary Upper Deschutes River Boating Closure
Board members approved a temporary boating closure on the upper Deschutes River between Pringle Falls and Tetherow Boat Ramp. The closure is currently set for Oct. 26, 27 and 28 as a safety measure while state officials work to improve fish habitat in the river.
The dates are tentative - the board approved up to five days of closure between Oct. 20 and Dec. 31 to allow flexibility for weather conditions and availability of helicopters.
The closure is needed to comply with Federal Aeronautics Administration regulations and to allow the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to use helicopters to place trees in streams to improve fish habitat. Helicopters will place more than 200 whole lodgepole pine trees along the 3.3 mile river segment. Having recreational boats on the river while helicopters are carrying and placing trees along the river would be very hazardous, according to the ODFW request.
Work Plan for Mandatory Boater Education Program
Mandatory Boater Education took another step forward during the Marine Board meeting as board members heard the proposal to begin the rulemaking process to develop the program.
Marty Law, Marine Board Education Program Coordinator, explained a list of general assumptions and a time line for developing rules. General assumptions include the following:
Administrative rules will be developed between March and October of 2000, with the infrastructure in place by summer of 2001.
Boater education classes which satisfy the requirement are available now. For information on class schedules, contact the Marine Board or call (800) 336-BOAT.
The board approved a Department of Environmental Quality request for $20,000 to help pay for construction of a marine fuel station at the Port of Bandon's inner basin. The Marine Board funds will be used as match for a recent Emergency-Board approval for a DEQ pledge of $60,000 for the project.
This is a continuation of the 1997-99 biennium legislative bill by which DEQ received $500,000 in lottery dollars to help Ports fund the removal of the underground tanks and upgrade marine fuel station. The board, in cooperation with DEQ, assisted with six tank removal/fuel upgrade grants last biennium. The port removed its underground fuel tank and marine fuel station several years ago and has not replaced the facility due to a lack of funds. The project must be completed by June 30, 2000.
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