The Oregon State Marine Board invites recreational boaters and others interested in the agency’s work, to gather and engage with staff at an Open House on Tuesday, November 12, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The agency is hosting an Open House to better understand the needs of boaters in Portland and surrounding areas. The Open House is being held at the agency’s office main conference room, 435 Commercial Street NE, Suite 400, in Salem.
The Open House is intended to build relationships with local recreational boaters and hear perspectives on how the agency can improve operations to meet future needs. Staff will be available to answer questions about boating safety, agency policies, plans, regulatory considerations, grants, boating access, revenues and expenditures, safety education, titling and registration, outfitter guides, and the agency’s environmental programs.
Learn more about other Open House locations and the proposed Outfitter Guide legislative concept.
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The Oregon State Marine Board has a new member who replaces longtime member Val Early. Messett represents commercial and recreational boating in southern Oregon interests and was confirmed by the Governor and Senate in September 2024. His term became effective on October 1, and he attended the Marine Board’s October 23 meeting held in Medford.
The Oregon State Marine Board is comprised of five members of the boating public who volunteer their time and expertise. Members serve a four-year term and may apply for a second term of service. Members represent different geographic regions of the state and different boating activities. Our Board members are also boaters. They own and use motorized boats and paddlecraft. Many own more than one type of watercraft.
Messett has spent the last 25 years of working in the outdoor industry as a registered guide and outfitter, sales representative, international destination travel coordinator, writer, photographer, and featured guest speaker.
Messett is also an avid recreational boater with worldwide experience on a diverse array of waterways and can provide the agency and board valuable insight. He aspires to offer thoughtful insights and perspectives around policy decisions to meet the needs of all user groups through promoting education, increasing awareness of user impacts on waterways, and interventions reducing conflict for the long-term enjoyment of Oregon waterways.
Messett is from Medford, Oregon, and spends as much time as possible on the water with his wife Leslie and dog Marlee, fishing, whitewater rafting, and jet boating.
Learn more about your Oregon State Marine Board members.
The Oregon State Marine Board invites recreational boaters and others interested in the agency’s work, to gather and engage with staff at an Open House on November 6, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. The agency is hosting an Open House to better understand the needs of boaters in Portland and surrounding areas. The Open House is being held at the Oak Lodge Library Community Room, 16201 SE McLoughlin Blvd., in Oak Grove.
The Open House is intended to build relationships with local recreational boaters and hear perspectives on how the agency can improve operations to meet future needs. Staff will be available to answer questions about boating safety, agency policies, plans, regulatory considerations, grants, boating access, revenues and expenditures, safety education, titling and registration, outfitter guides, and the agency’s environmental programs.
Learn more about other Open House locations and the proposed Outfitter Guide legislative concept.
The Oregon State Marine Board recently opened rulemaking for the Upper Rogue River in Jackson County and seeks written public comments on the proposed rule language.
The agency filed a Notice of Rulemaking with the Oregon Secretary of State, being published in the November 1st Oregon Bulletin to establish a new rule for the Upper Rogue River:
Oregon Administrative Rule 250-020-0151, Boat Operations in Jackson County
The rule preserves traditional boating uses along the Upper Rogue River. The horsepower restrictions will limit the size and speeds at which boats may operate on sections of the river. This will prevent conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized boaters and allow other river users to access sections of the river without interference from high-speed boats.
The agency will also host a public hearing on December 4, in Medford at the Rogue Community College. More information will be forthcoming in advance of the hearing.
The Board will meet on January 23, 2025, and may make a motion to adopt, amend, or take other action on the proposed rulemaking.
Written comments will be accepted until December 20, by 12:55 pm. Comments can be submitted by email to osmb.rulemaking@boat.oregon.gov or by U.S. Mail to Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. Testimony will not be accepted by telephone.
To view the public hearing notice and proposed rule language, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Rulemaking-and-Public-Notices.aspx.
The Oregon State Marine Board will email motorboat registration renewal notices to boaters with email addresses on file whose registration expires on December 31, 2024. Each renewal notice is unique to the owner and their boat. Owners are encouraged to take advantage of the online renewal option, and the email has detailed instructions for using the Boat Oregon Store. For boaters who do not have an email address on file, renewal notices will be sent via US Mail and will arrive by mid-November.
Renewing online using the Marine Board’s Boat Oregon Store is the fastest method, offering a printable temporary permit to be in compliance to go boating right away. Owners can renew multiple boats or purchase Waterway Access Permits in one transaction for a $1.50 portal provider fee. The registration decals are mailed within 2-5 days from online sales and within 7-10 business days from the date of receipt by US mail with payment and the remittance coupon. Owners can then expect an additional 2-4 weeks for their decals to arrive by US Mail. The timelines may vary since printing and mailing are handled outside the agency.
Any watercraft with a motor or sailboats 12 feet or longer are required to title and register with the Marine Board. Motorboat registration fees are $5 plus $5.95 per foot and are issued on a 2-year calendar basis.
Renewing in the fall and winter is recommended to avoid long delays during the peak summer season. The renewal cycle begins on November 1st of the expiration year.
Nonmotorized boaters with paddlecraft 10 feet and longer can also purchase waterway access permits through the Boat Oregon Store. A 7-day permit costs $5, an annual permit is $17, and a two-year permit is $30. Annual and two-year permits are also valid for the calendar year(s). Paddlers are encouraged to purchase permits early in the year to get the most out of permits. And because these permits can be saved or printed immediately, these make great stocking stuffers for the holidays! Especially when gifting paddlecraft.
Visit the Boat Oregon Store help page with videos and written instructions on how to navigate the system to renew your motorboat registrations or purchase Waterway Access Permits.
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The Oregon State Marine Board invites recreational boaters and others interested in the agency’s work, to gather and engage with staff at an Open House on October 30, from 5 pm to 7 pm. The agency is hosting an Open House to better understand the needs of boaters in Lincoln County and surrounding areas. The Open House is being held at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Glady’s Valley Marine Studies Building, Room 164, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive in Newport.
The Open House is intended to build relationships with local recreational boaters and hear perspectives on how the agency can improve operations to meet future needs. Staff will be available to answer questions about boating safety, agency policies, plans, regulatory considerations, grants, boating access, revenues and expenditures, safety education, titling and registration, outfitter guides, and the agency’s environmental programs.
Learn more about other Open House locations and the proposed Outfitter Guide legislative concept.
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The Oregon State Marine Board held its quarterly board meeting in Hood River on October 23, at the Hood River Library. The Board approved four boating facility grant applications as part of the agency’s Cycle Three funding opportunity for the 2023-2025 biennium. The Board also approved opening rulemaking and gathering public comments on proposed rule language for the Upper Rogue River.
The Board awarded $286,824 in Cycle Three boating facility grants for projects totaling $471,690:
- City of Oregon City, Clackamette Park. The project is to complete an archaeological survey and report to inform on potential design and engineering for relocating the boat ramp. A survey and report are also required for state and federal permitting processes. The Board approved $41,263.18 in state boater funds, combined with $35,079.87 in applicant cash and administration for a total project cost of $76,343.05.
- City of King City, King City Park Paddle Launch. The project is to complete an archaeological survey and report, hydraulic analysis, geotechnical investigations and wetland delineation, combined with consultation with other permitting agencies for developing a new nonmotorized access site on the Tualatin River in Washington County. The Board conditionally approved $70,728 in state waterway access funds contingent upon the city obtaining a land use agreement. Additional applicant cash match and administration includes $67,875 for a project total of $138,603.
- Port of Astoria, West Mooring Basin and Marina Fuel Dock. The project is to replace 30 pilings with five at the fuel station, 15 at the short-term tie-up docks and 10 in other parts of the basin. The Board approved $125,000 in state boater funds, combined with $63,967 in applicant cash and administration for a project total of $188,967.
- Port of Gold Beach, Sport Dock Electrical Replacement. The project includes replacing the breaker box, replacing five power pedestals and eight light posts in addition to running new electrical lines to the fixtures on the Sport Dock. The Board approved $50,833 in state boater funds, combined with $16,944 in applicant cash for a project total of $67,770.
In another agenda item, the Board discussed the public comments received during its Upper Rogue River hybrid Work Session in Medford, held on October 2. Staff provided marine law enforcement data and offered rule language for consideration, including redefining the section of the Upper Rogue River to align with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fishing regulations and to also include Rogue River tributaries. Other recommendations include a motor restriction of over 10 hp which is consistent with Coast Guard regulations. Staff also recommended provisions specific to commercial jet boat operations along with provisions that allow law enforcement and search and rescue to be exempt from these regulations while conducting official business.
The Board approved opening rulemaking for the Upper Rogue River to gather comments on the proposed rule language. Procedurally, agency staff will open a written public comment period in addition to scheduling a rule hearing in a similar format to the October 2nd Work Session in Medford, to comply with the Oregon Secretary of State Rulemaking hearing procedures. Comments will then be presented to the Board at its January 2025 meeting. The Board can modify, adopt or end the rulemaking process. If there are substantiative modifications to the rule language, staff would be required to conduct a repeated hearing process for transparency and additional public comments.
To view the Board Book and presentation, visit the agency’s Public Meetings Page.
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The Marine Board is directly funded by boaters in the form of registration, title, and permit fees, as well as through marine fuel taxes. No lottery, general fund tax dollarsor local facility parking fees support the agency or its programs. Boater-paid fees support the boating public through boating safety services (on-the-water law enforcement, training, and equipment), boating safety education, grants for the construction and maintenance of boating access facilities, and environmental protection programs.