Oregon – Official Release: The Oregon State Marine Board met on January 23, in Salem and approved Cycle Three boating facility grants to close out available funding from the 2023-2025 facilities budget. The Board also approved its first-ever rules for boat operations on the Upper Rogue River, from Fishers Ferry to the Lost Creek Dam.
Three grants were received for Cycle Three, identifying $3,643,650 in project needs and requesting $550,000, and one grant extension. The Board approved the following grants:
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pioneer Park West on the Klamath River. This project involves installing an accessible single-stall vault toilet, engineering services and sidewalks as part of a renovation project for improved river access. $180,000 in Boating Facility Grant funds and $60,000 in Waterway Access Grant funds to match $901,843 of applicant cash and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $1,141,843.
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Moonshine Falls on the Klamath River. For access road improvements to this new river access site will serve as a put-in location for the Big Bend run. The Board approved $40,000 in Waterway Access Grant funds to match $2,101.807 of applicant cash and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $2,141,807.
- Salmon Harbor West Basin boarding dock replacement on the Umpqua River. This project will replace the timber boarding docks with aluminum, which have an anticipated useful life of 25 years depending upon use, weather conditions and maintenance. The Board approved $270,000 in Boating Facility Grant funds to match $90,000 of applicant cash, labor, equipment, materials, administration and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $360,000.
- US Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest, Sutton Boat Ramp and boarding dock replacement. Due to permitting delays, the USFS requested a grant extension to June 30, 2027. The Board conditionally approved, subject to legislative approval of the agency’s 2025-27 budget, $449,496.43 in Boating Facility Grant funds, from the 2025-27 Boating Facility Grant funding to match $149,832.14 of applicant cash and administrative match, for a total project cost of $599,328.57.
In another boating facilities item, the staff asked the Board to approve a temporary rule for increased limitation to the Small Grant Program funding threshold for 2025, from $30,000 to 75,000 and not to exceed total project costs from $50,000 to $100,000. Small grants are approved by the agency Director and typically fund minor repairs at public recreational boating access sites such as re-decking docks, parking repairs, or installing a vault toilet. Small Grants can also fund permitting items in preparation for large construction projects The temporary rule would expire June 30, 2025. This adjustment to OAR 250-014-0560(1) helps use the remaining grant funding before the end of the biennial budget for other boating access improvements. The Board will be appraised on approved small grant applicants and project details by the Director.
The Marine Board also discussed concerns from a wide range of interested parties around boat operations on the Upper Rogue River, which initiated a detailed rulemaking process. After robust discussions, the Board considered rules specific to the upper, middle and lower regions of what is defined as the Upper Rogue River based on historical use, boat types and frequency of activities for given water flows. The Board opted to modify the staff recommendations and approved the following:
Boat Operations in Jackson County, OAR 250-020-0151
(9) Upper Rogue River and its Tributaries:
(a) No person shall use a motor in excess of 15 horsepower to propel a boat on the main stem of the Roge River above Dodge Bridge County Park and Rogue River tributaries, between Fishers Ferry County Park and William L. Jess Dam, (Lost Creek Dam).
(b) In the event that the river flow rate drops below a three day average flow of 1350 cubic feet per second, (CFS), or equivalent water level of 3.20 feet, as measured by the United States Geological Survey — USGS — 14339000 Rogue River at Dodge Bridge, near Eagle Point OR, use of a motor in excess of 15 horsepower shall be restricted between Fishers Ferry County Park and Dodge Bridge County Park. Restriction shall maintain in place until the three-day average flow increases above 1350 CFS.
(c) In addition to the above restrictions,
- Charter boats may not operate upstream of Table Rock Road Bridge.
- Charter boats may only operate between Table Rock Road Bridge and Fishers Ferry County Park between May 8 and September 10.
- For purposes of this section, a charter boat is a motorized boat used to carry seven or more passengers for hire for angling, sightseeing or other recreational purposes.
Marine Board members spent over a year learning about this issue and underscored the importance of enacting rules that balance safety, opportunity, environmental concerns and preserving historical boat uses. The rulemaking process also shined light around the importance of regularly consulting with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife around each agency’s regulatory authorities to protect habitat and build policy resilience with climate change. Marine Director Larry Warren, proposed having staff bring a review to the Board after one year to assess education, outreach and enforcement, and again the following year to review collected safety data. At the five-year mark, the rule will again be reviewed to ensure it is having the intended effect.
To view the replay and materials presented at the meeting, visit the agency’s Public Meetings page.
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