The Oregon State Marine Board held its quarterly meeting on April 23 at the Port of Tillamook and approved proposed rules for the Siletz River and denied a petition for a change in boat operations in the pass-through zone of McGuire Island on the Columbia River. The Board also approved a variety of boating facility grants under its Cycle Two funding opportunity.

Siletz River Petition to Prohibit Motorboats Upstream of Jack Morgan ParkAfter reviewing public testimony, written comments, and a summary from the Siletz River Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC), Board members considered options within its authority while also acknowledging the vast perspectives from property owners, anglers, guides, members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Board approved a proposed rule that allows small motors between Jack Morgan Park and Old Mill Park, with motors prohibited upstream of Old Mill Park.

The Board also directed staff to hold two public hearings and a work session prior to its July meeting. Next steps in the rulemaking process include filing the proposed rule language with the Secretary of State. A public comment period will open from May 1 to June 15, and the agency will solicit written comments on the rule language. Hearings will then be scheduled in May and June, along with a work session prior to July’s quarterly Board meeting. The Board will then have its next opportunity to approve, modify, or deny final rules.

Boating Facility Cycle Two Grant Applications Approved

The Boating Facilities Program received 20 Cycle Two grant applications, highlighting $5.8 million in boating needs and requesting $3.3 million of the agency’s 2025-2027 facilities funding. The requests for Waterway Access Permit grant funds exceeded by over three times the available non-motorized waterway access funds. The motorized applications received for the Boating Facility Grant also exceeded available funds by nearly $300,000.

The following boating facility grant applications were approved:

For more details, meeting materials are available on the agency’s Public Meetings page.