State Marine Board in Coos Bay, Oct. 29

On October 22, the Marine Board met in Coos Bay, OR and held a work session to discuss boat wakes. The Board heard invited testimony and from staff in an effort to better understand concerns from industry, recreational boaters, and homeowners pertaining to safety and impacts from wave-generating boating activities. The Board held their quarterly Board meeting on October 23, and approved opening rulemaking on several agenda items, took no action on other items, approved the repeal of rules for Insurance and Duplication Fees (OAR 250-010-0315), and approved adopting rules for Outfitter Guides (OAR 250, Division 016). The Board approved opening rulemaking for the following items and will seek written public comment upon filing with the Secretary of State’s Office: Boat Operations on Turner Lake in Marion County (OAR 250-020-0259); Marine Sanitation Devices (OAR 250-010-0750) and related marine sanitation device rules of  OAR 250-010-0010; 250-020-0031; 250-020-0091; 250-020-0161 and 250-020-0014; Boat Operations on the Willamette River in Clackamas County (OAR 250-020-0032; Boat Operations on the Willamette River in Yamhill and Marion Counties – Local Rules Newberg Pool (OAR 250-020-0385); Boat Operations Marion and Yamhill Counties (Champoeg Pageant) (OAR 250-020-0263). The Board took no action on the proposed statewide rules for Wake Sport Operations (OAR 250-010-0026) and Definitions (OAR 250-010-0010) which defined wake sport terms and established operational distance prohibitions.  The Board did not amend or repeal any associated stand-alone local waterway rules. Instead, the Board directed staff to convene a collaborative rules advisory committee to evaluate wakes and wave energy in relation to the proximity of other boats, property, and the shoreline.  The Board also opened rulemaking for the Willamette River in the Newberg Pool area and instructed staff to use the compromised plan developed jointly by homeowners and industry as a starting point.  Concurrently, the Board asked staff to expand their outreach and collaborative advisory committees to address issues specific to the Portland Metro area and Multnomah Channel in order to balance safety for all waterway users. To view the materials presented at the Board meeting, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Board-and-Public-Meetings.aspx.