Lower Willamette River Rules for Boat Operation

There are special laws for operating your boat in the Lower Willamette River (from the Hawthorne Bridge to Willamette Falls). Certain activities are not allowed, and others must keep specific distances from structures. 

Boat operations from the Hawthorne Bridge to Waverly Marina

From May 1 through September 1, a seasonal pass-through zone for boats exists between the Hawthorne Bridge at river mile 13.2 and Waverly Marina at river mile 17. 

In this section of river:

• All boats may pass through without reducing speed
• PWCs are only allowed to transit through the zone and are not permitted to operate above slow no-wake speed (SNW definition: operating a boat at the slowest speed necessary to maintain steerage and reduce or eliminate waves that appear as whitewater behind the boat)
• Towed watersports activities are not allowed in this zone