Oregon State Marine Board release – During the week of June 10-14, Marine Law Enforcement personnel from around the state are learning and perfecting their drift boating skills on the Rogue River. Students are learning to swim in whitewater, practice rescue techniques, navigate class III whitewater rapids, and operate in remote environments from drift boats, rafts and catarafts. Running whitewater takes training and practice, which is what this one-of-a-kind school provides. “Building confidence in different water conditions is paramount when minutes count,” says Eddie Persichetti, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Marine Board. “The best way to learn is hands-on experience on a dynamic waterway such as the Rogue River, with experienced instructors.” Each day the students drift various river sections, beginning with Class I rapids. “Day one we build on basic rowing techniques and their attention downriver. Reading hydrodynamics is an art, and we do our best to build as much confidence in all the students by day five,” says Persichetti. On day two, instructors build on the skills from the day before and then progress onto more difficult skills with more difficult rapids throughout the week. The skills the officers gain give them a strong foundation in their law enforcement roles when they return to their patrol areas. “We also practice scenarios where students encounter boaters and guides who are not in compliance with existing laws,” Persichetti adds. “When the law enforcement students leave this training, they have a new respect for safety on the river, the people who run it and ensuring for everyone’s water recreation safety.” Recreational boaters can expect to see law enforcement students drifting on the Upper Rogue from Rogue Elk Park to Touvelle Park from June 11 through June 13, and the Middle Rogue from Ennis Riffle to Argo Canyon on June 14. For more information about boating laws and regulations, visit Boat.Oregon.gov.
