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As a rower with one of the local clubs, Station L Rowing, I can attest that in addition to paddlers, there are rowers out just about every morning throughout the entire year. From March to November we have 20+ rowers out three days a week, not counting the high school rowers from Rose City Rowing club, the women at Portland Women's rowing, and the other rowers who come downstream from Oaks Park (Willamette Rowing, for example). 

Even our largest boats (8 w/cox) are about a foot and a half wide and ride about six inches above the waterline. For us, a ban on motorized boats on the 'back channel' would be a great. So often during the warm months our rows are complicated if not endangered by wakes from wake-boarders or, in the case of last Saturday, competition fishing boats cruising at high speeds to their next hole. 

I think we all agree that the river needs to be a place for all types of users, recreational and commerce, but it also needs to remain a safe place for all those users. Perhaps instead of a full-time ban, certain times could be prohibited from motors - something that we could all benefit from.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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