For Immediate Release

Date: April 7, 2005

Marine Board Continues Support of Oregon Youth Conservation Corps

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) voted to continue its long-standing support with the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (OYCC) during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 5 in Salem. Among other business, the board authorized funding for SOLV’s Adopt-A-River program, heard presentations by the Columbia River Pilots Association and the City of Keizer and reviewed a grant request increase from Clackamas County.

The OSMB has been an active partner with the OYCC for 17 years. Through the partnership disadvantaged or at-risk youth help to protect, conserve and rehabilitate and improve boating facilities statewide. The board approved $44,401 for four projects that will benefit 22 boating facilities and offer employment opportunity for 20 youth and four crew leaders. The youth are provided with a meaningful work experience that offers education, training and improvement of their work skills, instills a strong work ethic and increased employability.

Clackamas County requested the board to consider a cost increase of $17,500 for the Barton Park Ramp. The board approved the cost increase, bringing the board’s contribution to a total of $29,375 for the project. The City of Keizer made an informational presentation to the board on the Keizer Rapids project. The Keizer Rapids project represents a rare opportunity to provide boaters with a new river access site.

The Columbia River Pilots Association made a presentation concerning their ‘Make Way’ campaign and asked for the board’s continued support. The ‘Make Way’ campaign is an educational campaign to boaters on the serious potential for collisions between recreational boaters and commercial shippers on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Ships navigating the lower portions of the rivers must stay in the narrow but deep river channel to avoid running aground. Even if the river appears to be wide, boaters should move when a ship is near.

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