Request For Salmon River Motor Restriction Granted
The Oregon State Marine Board adopted additional regulations on the Salmon River in Lincoln County, restricting motors to 15 horsepower or less above River Mile 3. The Board made the decision, along with a slate of other actions, during a regular Marine Board meeting in Klamath Falls on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
The Board acted on nearly a dozen items, though many were matters of housekeeping and had little if any comment from the public. While the Board did grant the restriction on the Salmon River, they denied a petition seeking to eliminate gas motors on the Siletz River, also in Lincoln County. A summary of the decisions follows.
- Salmon River - The board adopted rules limiting motorboats to 15 horsepower or less on the Salmon River in Lincoln County. The limit applies to the portion of the river one mile up stream from Knight Park. The move is designed to reduce boat wake impacts on riparian areas undergoing restoration on the lower portion of the river.
- Siletz River - The Board denied a petition to limit motorboats to electric motors only on the Siletz River in Lincoln County upstream of Morgan Park. Public comment was mixed on whether conflict existed or not. The Board felt that this section of the river is large enough to accommodate a mix of watercraft and didn't see evidence of conflict compelling enough to close it to gas powered watercraft.
- Federal Fund limitation increase - The Board directed staff to seek an increase in the agency's federal fund limitation from the Legislative Emergency Board. This will allow the Board to receive federal funds relating to the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program.
- The Board adopted rules limiting motorboats to electric motors only on Ollala Lake in Lincoln County, and no motors on Roslyn Lake in Clackamas County. The property owners control access to these waterbodies - this rule brings state regulations in line with the landowner rules.
- The board adopted a 5 mph-slow-no-wake zone on the north arm of Northfork Lake in Clackamas County, and in Roberts Bay on Prineville Reservoir in Crook County. These rules separate high-speed motorboat activity from areas used heavily by swimmers and other water recreationalists.
- The board increased the minimum threshold for reporting boating accidents from $500 to $2000, bringing state rules in line with federal increases that became effective in July.
- The board adopted language making Coast Guard personnel who have attained status of Coxswain or Crewman eligible for their Mandatory Boater Education card without additional training.
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