Klamath River Offers New Technical Boating Opportunities, Advanced Skills Required (Photo) -05/13/25

With the recent dam removals on the iconic Klamath River, this stretch is very technical which means novice and intermediate recreational boaters are not advised to boat in this area in the foreseeable future. Only very experienced whitewater boaters with advanced skill sets for self-rescue should attempt to recreate downstream of the Keno Dam.

 

Inexperienced boaters are encouraged to go with a registered outfitter guide to experience the river. Rapid classification and traits can change depending on higher and lower water levels. High water can wash out rapids or make them more intense, and lower water can make some rapids more challenging and technical.

 

The rapids between Keno Dam Access Site to Pioneer Park West are rated Class III, and from Pioneer Park West to Moonshine Falls, the rating increases to Class IV. There is little transition between difficulty ratings. 

 

The Klamath River Recreation Corporation is working with numerous agencies and organizations in both Oregon and California as part of the approved Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plan, which includes recreation.  

 

The Marine Board approved grant funding to improve Pioneer Park West and the development of new access at Moonshine Falls.

 

These facilities are under construction:

• Pioneer Park West will have a partial opening beginning May 15.
• Moonshine Falls will be closed until later this summer. All construction is anticipated to be completed by August 1.

In Oregon, all boaters are required to wear a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for any rivers with a Class III or higher scale of difficulty rating. The Marine Board also encourages helmet wear while whitewater boating.

 

The Marine Board is developing comprehensive safety information on a web page, along with signage for experienced users at Keno Dam, Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls, and Spring Hill Island access sites. 

 

Learn more about the International Scale of River Difficulty and skill level.

 

Visit Boat.Oregon.gov for more recreational boating safety information and KlamathRenewal.org for Klamath River public notices. 

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Marine Board’s Boating Safety Advocate Program Is Underway For The Boating Season (Photo) -05/08/25

The Oregon State Marine Board is amplifying its education and outreach program to meet boaters where they are, on the water and in Oregon communities. The agency’s seasonal boating safety advocates (BSAs) are already making a splash across Oregon, interacting with the public at schools, popular waterways, and other community events to promote boating and water safety.

 

“This program emphasizes the Marine Board's commitment to modernizing boating safety education and outreach,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “We are focused on decreasing boating fatalities in Oregon. So many incidents are preventable and come down to education, understanding the risks, and having the right safety equipment for the activity. The BSAs will help reinforce how to play it safe.”

 

The BSA positions are not regulatory in nature but collect informal field data related to boating activities for safety and compliance. Advocates are approachable, and boaters are encouraged to share their passions and perspectives. “Engaging with boaters on waters across the state creates an opportunity to have conversations and learn what the agency can do to serve boaters better,” Paulsen adds. “BSAs are also eyes and ears for agency staff to help us gather observational data when they are out on the water.”

 

Learn more about the Marine Board’s Boating Safety Advocates and recreational boating in Oregon at Boat.Oregon.gov.

 

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Marine Board Accepts Petition For Siletz River -04/24/25

The Oregon State Marine Board held its quarterly hybrid meeting in Salem at the agency’s office and via Microsoft Teams on April 24, 2025. The meeting agenda was mostly informational for the Board: boat operations and park access to Lake Oswego, update on abandoned derelict vessel removals on the Willamette River with allocated America’s Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and a primer on mini-jet boats.

 

In its only decision-making item, the Board accepted a petition by the Siletz Tribes to consider rulemaking to prohibit the use of motors above Jack Morgan Park on the Siletz River. The use of a jet pump drive is currently prohibited. The Board accepted the petition and opened the rulemaking process, which included convening a rule advisory committee with a balance of representatives and agency partners to share perspectives and aid in developing proposed rule language or finding other creative solutions. The Board asked for staff to report back for its October meeting.  

 

To view the meeting replay and materials, visit the Marine Board’s Public Meetings page.
 

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