Marine Board Meeting January 23 In Salem -01/14/25

The Oregon State Marine Board will hold its quarterly meeting in Salem on January 23, 2025. The meeting will be held at the agency’s office, 435 Commercial St. NE, Suite 400, beginning at 8:30 am.

 

The agenda includes:

• Director’s Agency Report
• Natural Resource Policy Director Update, Informational  
• Boating Facility Grants, Action: Board Approval
• eBER Statistics Update, Informational
• Boating Safety Advocate Program Update, Informational
• Waterway Access Program Update, Informational
• Upper Rogue River Rulemaking (OAR 250-020-0151), Action: Board Vote
• Executive Session ORS 192.660(2)(i)

Written public comments for this meeting will be accepted until 5 pm on January 21, 2025. Email written comments to jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov or by U.S. Mail to Oregon State Marine Board, Attn: Jennifer Cooper, 435 Commercial St. NE, Ste 400, Salem, OR 97301.

 

Representatives of the news media and designated staff shall be allowed to attend the executive session. All other members of the audience will not be allowed in the room. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on or otherwise disclose any of the deliberations or anything said about these subjects during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. 

 

To view the agenda and board materials, and for a link to the live stream of the meeting, visit the agency’s Public Meetings page. Meetings are conducted using Microsoft Teams and viewing may require the installation of a free Teams app for mobile devices.
 

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Marine Board Now Offering Multilingual Boating Safety Course Manuals (Photo) -01/13/25

The Oregon State Marine Board's “Boat Oregon” Classroom Course Manual is now translated into four more languages. This effort aims to broaden participation in basic lifesaving boating education.

 

The manual is now available in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and English.

 

“Oregon’s population continues to grow, and this increase is reflected on our waterways,” says MariAnn McKenzie, Boating Safety Education Coordinator for the Marine Board. “More people are participating in paddling and fishing using small to mid-size outboard motors and many may not speak English. We aim to make learning boating safety easier by removing language barriers, allowing more individuals to enjoy time on the water with fewer incidents.” 

 

Digital copies of the manual, including the English version, are available for download. Print copies will be available at boat shows and events attended by agency staff or marine law enforcement partners during the boating season.

 

The Boat Oregon Classroom Course Manual is used by Marine Board instructors and boating safety partners who offer approved boating safety education courses. These courses help boaters meet the mandatory boating safety education requirement. Since 1999, all motorboat operators with more than 10 horsepower must complete a boating safety education course and apply for their Boating Safety Education Card. The card must be carried by the boat operator when the motorboat is in use. Additional rules may apply depending on the type of watercraft and age.

 

Learn more about the boating safety education program, requirements, and links to the course manuals. 
 

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Marine Board Seeks Additional Written Public Comments On Updated Proposed Upper Rogue River Rules -12/23/24

The Oregon State Marine Board opened a public comment period on proposed rule language for boat operations in early November for the Upper Rogue River in Jackson County, with a comment deadline of December 20, 2024. During that timeframe, the agency learned more about issues related to boating in this area that have led to proposing further revisions to the rule language. To be thorough and transparent, the agency is opting to reopen the public comment step in the rulemaking process to ensure ample time for comments on the updated proposed rule language. 

The agency is filed a Notice of Rulemaking with the Oregon Secretary of State on December 23rd, which will be published in the January 1st Oregon Bulletin, to modify the rule language on the proposed new rule for the Upper Rogue River:

Oregon Administrative Rule 250-020-0151, Boat Operations in Jackson County

(9) Upper Rogue River and its Tributaries: (c) Between the above dates, in the event that the river flow rate drops below a three day average flow of 1350 cubic feet per second, ("CFS"), or equivalent water level of 3.20 feet, as measured by the United State Geological Survey - USGS 14339000 Rogue River at Dodge Bridge, near Eagle Point, OR, all boating activities shall be restricted until the three day average flow increases above 1350 CFS.

The rule aims to preserve traditional boating uses along the Upper Rogue River while also aiming to reduce conflicts and enhance safety between other river recreators. The horsepower restrictions will limit the size and speeds in which boats may operate on sections of the river to preserve habitat. 

Public comments from the December 4 hearing or submitted via email by the original December 20 written comment deadline are already included for the record for the Marine Board’s consideration. Therefore, only new comments pertaining to the addition are being solicited. 

The Board will meet on January 23, 2025, and may make a motion to adopt, amend, or take other action on the proposed rulemaking. 

Written comments will be accepted until January 21, by 11:55 pm. Comments can be submitted by email to osmb.rulemaking@boat.oregon.gov  or by U.S. Mail to Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. Testimony will not be accepted by telephone.

To view the public hearing notice and proposed rule language, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Rulemaking-and-Public-Notices.aspx.

 

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