[OSMB-News] Media Releases

[Ashley MASSEY]

For Immediate Release	Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Marine Board Approves Boating Facility Improvements, Other Rules

	The Oregon State Marine Board has approved close to a million
dollars in recreational boating access grants across the state.  The
grant awards and other decisions were made on Thursday, March 16 at
their quarterly meeting in Portland. 
The Marine Board provides facility grant funds to assist in the
development or maintenance of recreational boating access projects. 
Funds come from boat title and registration fees and motorboat fuel tax
revenues.  By using matching grants, the board leverages other state,
private and federal funds including Clean Vessel Act, Boating
Infrastructure Grants and the Sport Fish Restoration program.  
	Combined with the Marine Board funds, the following projects
will result in a total of more than 2 million in statewide
improvements.
*	Lost Creek Reservoir, Oregon Parks & Recreation Department,
                floating restroom anchor					
               $3,750
*	Columbia River, McCuddy's Marina, replace
pumpout			$5,000
*	Klamath Lake, Pelican Marina, pumpout/dump
station			$20,000
*	Multnomah Channel, Columbia County, JJ Collins Transient Tie-up

                facility, replace
toilet							$10,000
*	John Day River, Clatsop County, pave parking
lot				$22,500
*	Bully Creek Reservoir, Malheur County, resurface parking
area		$11,000
*	Siletz River, Lincoln County, land
acquisition				$40,000
*	Klamath River, ODFW, Miller Island ramp and
floats			$26,250
*	Nehalem River, Tillamook County, replace float and dredge		
               $42,850
*	Tillamook River, Tillamook County, Memaloose
dredging			$10,000
*	Brownlee Reservoir, Baker County/BLM, Spring Recreation ramp 
                extension and
restroom						$30,000
*	Willamette River, City of Salem, Wallace Marine Park floats		
               $15,500
*	Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, Josephine, Linn, and Columbia
                Counties, boat ramp and dock repairs for various
waterbodies,  		$41,000
*	Agency Lake, Klamath County, Henzel Park
restroom			$80,000
*	Coquille River, Port of Bandon, float
replacement				$73,325
*	Isthmus Slough, City of Coos Bay, Eastside float replacement		
               $55,800
*	Coos Bay, City of Coos Bay, Empire parking paving			
               $111,000
*	Yaquina River, Port of Toledo, Airport Ramp
floats				$60,000
*	Tillamook Bay, Port of Garibaldi, ramp repair and
floats			$123,000
*	Upper Cow Lake, Malheur County/BLM, ramp, parking and restroom	
                $56,000

Among the agenda items, the board also considered the following:  
	A proposal to allow electric motors on certain "motor
prohibited" waterbodies.  Of twelve proposed locations, three will
permit electric motors this boating season: Walter Worth Lake in Marion
County; Hemlock Lake in Douglas County; and Rock Creek Reservoir in
Wasco County. Seven waterbodies, including Hand, Island and Round Lakes
in Jefferson County, Fish Lake in Harney County, Carmen Reservoir in
Linn County, Badger Lake in Hood River County, Bull Prairie Reservoir in
Grant County were removed from consideration due to strong public
opposition.  Benson Lake in Multnomah County and Mud Lake in Baker
County were also rejected for the rule change by the Board and will
remain non-motorized.
	Slow No-Wake limit at Agency Lake access point: the Board denied
a request for a slow-no-wake speed due to low usage, lack of reported
problems and no public support.
	Hewitt Park Slow-No-Wake Zone: The Board directed staff to begin
rulemaking for a slow-no-wake zone adjacent to Hewitt Park on the Powder
River arm of Brownlee Reservoir.  Petitioners sought the slow-no-wake
zone to help protect boats tied to shoreline rocks due to limited
moorage facilities, and protect swimmers in this section of water.
	Lake Billy Chinook No-Wake Zone: The Board directed staff to
begin rulemaking to clarify and expand a no-wake zone at the Upper
Deschutes, Lower Deschutes and Crooked River day use area boundaries.
	Sunset/Neocoxie Lake: The Board denied a request to lift a 10
mph on a portion of the lake.  The speed limit will remain 10 mph on the
lake, year round.
                                                                       
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Clackamas County Warns Unregistered Boat Owners

	The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is walking the docks at
marinas, looking for boats in the water that have expired registration
decals.  "Sailboats 12 feet or longer and all motorized boats are
required to have a current registration," says Clackamas County Deputy
Doug Olsen.  "Many boat owners are unaware that if a boat is moored in a
marina, it still needs to have current registration decals. This area
and many others around the state have a lot of violators."  Failure to
have a current certificate of number or registration can result in a
fine of up to $273.  "The cost of the citation is a lot more than the
decals," Olsen adds.
	The registration fee is a flat $3 per foot and applies to all
sailboats 12 feet and longer, all motorized boats including U.S.
documented recreational boats and personal watercraft. Canoes,
inflatables, and rowboats with any type of motor (gasoline, diesel and
electric) are also included.  Exceptions include certain public boats,
foreign boats, and boats registered in other states using Oregon waters
for 60 days or less.  Commercial boats documented by the U. S. Coast
Guard must be currently registered with the U. S. Coast Guard when they
are moored in Oregon.  
	For more information, contact the Oregon State Marine Board or
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
                                                                       
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Ashley A. Massey
Acting Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us