science environment

Oregon Agency Rejects Petition For Wakesurfing Closure On Willamette

By Monica Samayoa (OPB)
Dec. 20, 2019 9:30 p.m.

The Oregon Department of State Lands says they will not consider closing the Willamette River to large wakesurfing boats at this time.

This comes after environmental organization Willamette Riverkeeper submitted a petition in October to immediately limit the use of large wakesurfing boats of more than 3,500 pounds in the Willamette River.

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DSL communications manager Ali Hansen said the agency will consider alternatives for addressing the concerns raised but it will be best addressed by the Oregon State Marine Board, which is currently working with other agencies to identify solutions.

“We think it makes good sense for the people who use the river and the people who are responsible for keeping the river healthy and safe for all to enjoy, to talk to each other about what the problems are and to work together to find solutions,” Hansen said.

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Currently, the Oregon State Marine Board is in the early stages of considering rules related to wakesurfing. One rule would be for the Newberg Pool area, roughly from Newberg to Wilsonville. The other would be in the Portland metro area from Oregon City's Willamette Falls to where the river drains into the Columbia.

The agency this year implemented new recreational boating regulations on the Willamette River in Clackamas, Marion and Yamhill counties.

Willamette Riverkeeper's Travis Williams said he was not taking this latest step as a defeat.

“While they did not grant our specific request, this whole effort by Willamette Riverkeeper has helped really focus on some of the issues that has not been focused on before, specifically the ecological impact by some of those waves and river safety,” he said.

Williams said the large boats used for wakesurfing are creating artificial waves that are unnatural to the river. He said the waves create irreparable harm such as erosion and property damage to those who live along the river.

“The element for us here that is meaningful and actually a good step is having DSL staff attend two rule making processes that just got going,” Williams said.

The Oregon State Marine Board anticipates a decision around April next year.

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