Or. Admin. Code § 250-020-0400

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 11, November 1, 2024

Section 250-020-0400 - Boat Operations on the Willamette River

(1) A person must not operate a boat:

(a) Within a 150-foot semi-circle extending outwards toward the river channel from the southernmost end of the Sportcraft Marina dock from September 1 through May 31.

(b) Downstream from Willamette Falls in Oregon City in an area from the base of the falls to a line across the river between the northeast corner of the West Linn Paper Company Mill A Grinder Room on the west bank of the river to the southwest corner of the previous power plant associated with the previous Blue Heron Mill on the east bank of the river as marked.

(c) In the area commonly known as the "cul-de-sac" or the West Linn Paper Company tailrace; beginning at the mouth of the tailrace on the south bank then extending across the tailrace following the line established by the bridge across the tailrace to the north bank, then in a westerly, southerly, and easterly direction around the bank of the tailrace to the place of beginning.

(d) Closures described in (1)(b) and (1)(c) of this section do not apply to:

(A) Portland General Electric Sullivan Plant and West Linn Paper Company maintenance crews when on official business.

(B) Boats used in taking lamprey under a permit issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife subject to the conditions specified in the permit.

(C) Holders of a Ceremonial Harvest Permit for activities conducted in accordance with OAR 635-041-0610 as adopted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

(D) To operate in the closed areas under special permits as prescribed in sections (1)(d)(A) and (1)(d)(B), each operator must hold a valid Oregon Boating Safety Education Card and each boat must pass an inspection by a Clackamas County Marine Law Enforcement officer for compliance with Oregon boating laws.

(2) A person must not operate a boat in excess of slow-no wake speed:

(a) From a point 50 feet south of the Center Street Bridge between Salem and West Salem and a point 50 feet north of the railroad bridge on Marion Street between Salem and West Salem.

(b) From the I-5 Boones Bridge west approximately 1,700 feet to the Railroad Bridge.

(c) Within the Cedar Island Lagoon.

(d) From the north point of the eastern spit of Cedar Island 100 yards due north and then due west to the shoreline.

(e) Within 200 feet of shore adjacent to George Rogers Park (Lake Oswego), from the southern bank of Sucker Creek north along the west bank of the Willamette River, to a point 200 yards north of the boat ramp, as posted.

(f) Within 200 feet of west shore, as buoyed, between the southern boundary of Willamette Park Launch Ramp and the northern boundary of the Willamette Sailing Club.

(g) Within the Ross Island Lagoon and in the Holgate Channel from a line extending due east from the northern tip of Ross Island upstream to a line extending from the southern tip of Ross Island due south to the Oregon Yacht Club. These restrictions do not apply to:

(A) Federally documented commercial vessels required to be inspected under federal law, including those operated for sand and gravel operations, with the exception of passenger vessels of less than 100 gross tons, which are subject to the restriction.

(B) Safety launches while accompanying an organized rowing or paddling program, club, or school.

(3) A "Pass-through" zone is established in the Willamette River from the Hawthorne Bridge upriver to a line extending due west from the southernmost moorage in the Waverly Marina (River Mile 16.9). This pass-through zone is in effect from May 1 through September 30. In this zone, no person shall operate a motorboat pulling a water skier or towed device or engage in wake surfing as defined in OAR 250-010-0010. Additionally, a person must not operate a personal watercraft, as defined in OAR 250-021-0020, in continuous operation above 5 MPH in pass-through zones, except to transit directly through them.

(4) A person must not operate a motorboat on the Willamette River from the southernmost moorage of the Waverly Marina (River Mile 16.9) upriver to the mouth of the Yamhill River (River Mile 55.0):

(a) In excess of "slow-no wake" speed within 100 feet of a private dock, boathouse, moorage, or floating home legally permitted by the Oregon Department of State Lands.

(b) For the purposes of wakeboarding within 200 feet of a dock, boathouse, moorage, or floating home legally permitted by the Oregon Department of State Lands.

(c) In excess of "slow-no wake" speed for the purposes of towing an inflatable device within 200 feet of a dock, boathouse, moorage, or floating home legally permitted by the Oregon Department of State Lands.

(d) For the purpose of either wake surfing or maintaining a speed between "slow-no wake" and planing, where a motorboat operated at planing speed is riding on or near the water's surface as a result of the hydrodynamic forces on the motorboat's hull or other surface.

(5) A person must not operate a motorboat in excess of 10 MPH between the southern shore of Hog Island and the mainland in Clackamas County.

(6) A person must not operate a personal watercraft in continuous operation between Hog Island and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge during the period from May 1 through September 30, except to transit through this zone.

(7) No person shall anchor a boat at approximately River Mile 7 in Multnomah County described in Department of State Lands Easement No. 31530-EA, Exhibit A - Legal Description - Permanent Easement.

(8) The following areas on the Willamette River are designated as racing motorboat testing areas:

(a) In Benton County, from the Harrison Street Bridge downstream 0.6 miles. Testing shall be limited to 7 pm to 9 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 am to 12 pm on Saturdays.

(b) In Linn County, from the southern Pacific Railroad bridge to the east boundary of Bowman Park. Testing shall be limited to 8 am to 12 pm on Wednesdays.

(c) In Multnomah County in the Swan Island Lagoon. Testing shall be limited to 3 pm to 6 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Or. Admin. Code § 250-020-0400

OSMB 4-2022, adopt filed 05/03/2022, effective 5/3/2022; OSMB 1-2023, amend filed 01/26/2023, effective 2/1/2023

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110 & ORS 830.175

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.175 & ORS 830.195