Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Strategic Plan

Graphic of the agency's logo and "Boat Oregon"

The Marine Board has a long-standing tradition of serving Oregon Boaters. The agency is a resource for local governments, non-profits, and private entities that provide services to recreational boaters. The agency was established in 1959 and has led recreational boating through significant changes to boating and natural resource policies over the last sixty years. As the agency looks at the next decade of continued service, it must continue to adapt to climate and technological changes that impact boaters. 

Mission:
Serving Oregon's recreational boating public through education, enforcement, access, and environmental stewardship for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Vision:
Boaters benefit as the Marine Board navigates change and growth of waterway use.

Resources

2011-2016 Strategic Plan

2011-2016 Strategic Plan Accomplishments Report  

2017-2022 Strategic Plan

2023-2028 Strategic Plan

Values:

  • Transparency: We ensure agency information is available to the public through honest and collaborative engagement.
  • Trust and Credibility: We communicate with authenticity, are accountable for our mistakes, seek to understand issues, and find solutions with others.
  • Innovation: We push ourselves to find solutions for tomorrow that are better than what we did yesterday.
  • Boating: Our passion is the confluence of boating, innovation, tradition, safety, and stewardship.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: We are a culture where inclusivity is a reflex, not an initiative.

Major programs:

  • Business Services: Providing services to agency programs to support the agency's mission.
  • Director's Office: Integrating Board, legislative, and agency operations.
  • Environmental and Policy: Creating a positive boater experience.
  • Facilities: Removing barriers to waterway access.
  • Human Resources: Providing human relations services to support the agency.
  • Registration: Providing proactive customer service and issuing accurate titles and registrations.
  • Safety: Facilitating safety, education, and stewardship for Oregon boaters and outfitter guides.

Evolution of the Marine Board's Strategic Plans

2010 marked the year the Marine Board initiated a broad, statewide strategic planning process. Agency staff held public meetings to gather feedback from recreational boaters. Based on the input, the agency developed, and the Board approved the 2011-2016 Strategic Plan. The plan included recommendations, goals, and strategies for the agency to pursue over the next six years. 

Primary goals included:Image of the agency director at the helm of his motorized boat

  • better representation and integration of non-motorized boating into the agency
  • a framework to review and rank needed changes and updates to boating rules
  • a systematic update to the Board's law enforcement contract agreements
  • improve interagency collaboration
  • improve marketing and outreach
  • improve cross-board relationships
  • review the agency's mission and vision statements; consider a new logo 

A key lesson learned through this process was the importance of two-way dialog. Four external advisory committees (Boat Oregon Advisory Teams -BOATs) were formed. The goal of the BOATs was to gain perspectives and better understand issues from the users' perspective. The BOATs helped the agency plot a new course with agency operations; to serve the best interest of all recreational boaters. The agency also convened rule advisory committees (RACs) to help draft rule language for rulemaking/rule updates.

These committees were also charged with developing fiscal impacts on local businesses.  In 2016, the agency used the BOATs to help draft the 2017-2022 strategic plan. This plan strived to improve the recreational boating experience by:

  • reducing on-water conflict
  • enhancing collaboration
  • expanding boating access
  • improving boater knowledge and skills.

In 2019, the BOAT committees merged into one and renamed the Watercraft User Group. This group convened once. Out of six projects in the plan, five evolved into either rule advisory committees or the rulemaking or legislative processes. Staff encouraged members to participate; thus, the Watercraft User Group was no longer needed. Some of the initiatives were taken up by the 2019 and 2021 Oregon Legislature leading to new laws for boat operations.

The 2023 Strategic Plan considers challenges and identifies initiatives, and achievements over the next five years.