Oregon Paddlers–You Can Help Improve Boating!
Posted: 06/03/2014
By: Megan Hooker
Oregon State Marine Board to hold Listening Sessions to Engage Paddlers
**Press Release from the Oregon State Marine Board**
Boaters are invited to join the Oregon State Marine Board agency staff and non-motorized advisory committee members for an evening of dialog about your boating interests and what you need in your area to better support your activities out on the water. The Listening Sessions will focus primarily on discussions about boating access, on-the-water safety, education and information opportunities, and funding options to support these services.
“Now is the time that we need to bring paddlers to the table and talk about the services
they need and want,” says Director Scott Brewen. “We hope that together we will set a
new course forward that will help us manage, support and encourage diverse non-motorized
activities on Oregon’s waterways that promote safer and more frequent boating recreation
for all boaters.”

Six meetings are scheduled in June, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the following
locations:
- Downtown Portland –June 3rd at the Portland Building, Room C, 1120 SW 5th Ave, in Portland
- Medford/White City –June 5th at the Jackson County Public Works Auditorium, 7520 Table Rock Rd., in Central Point
- La Grande –June 9th at the Cook Memorial Library – 2006 4th St. – in La Grande

- Tillamook –June 10th at the Tillamook Library, 1716 3rd St., in Tillamook
- Eugene –June 17th, at the Willamalane Center – Ken Long Room, 250 S. 32nd St., in Springfield
- Bend –June 19th, at the Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe Shop, 805 SW Industrial 
Way, Ste #6, in Bend 

“This process was initiated by boaters through their input to our Strategic Plan in
2011,” said Brewen. “The common issue from motorized and non-motorized boaters alike
was how to integrate non-motorized boaters’ needs and participation into agency
operations.” 

As a first step in 2012, the Marine Board convened a Non-Motorized Advisory Committee comprised
of individuals representing non-motorized user groups. The committee produced a set of key topics
about what is important to non-motorized boaters and potential ways the Marine Board could engage
and support them into the future. Based on their recommendations, the Marine Board is holding
this series of interactive “public listening sessions” to further engage the casual
user and more organized non-motorized boaters with agency staff.
The listening sessions will serve two purposes: 1) Inform the boating public about the Marine
Board’s new Mission and strategic goals, and; 2) Listen closely to non- motorized boaters
to learn about their local needs related to access, safety, and education; and explore funding
options to meet those needs. 

The input received from the Non-Motorized Advisory Committee, the public listening sessions in
June, and comments from an online survey will serve as a baseline for preliminary thinking and
development of ideas for a non-motorized boater program. The public dialogue will continue in the
fall, beginning in September, with another series of listening sessions around the state.
Additionally, the online survey and other outreach will be ongoing.
A comprehensive report will be compiled with recommendations for a non-motorized boater program
and funding source options to present to the Marine Board in July of 2015. The process will be
documented and posted to the Marine Board’s website.
The Marine Board is funded by registration fees and marine fuel taxes paid by boaters. No general
fund tax dollars are used to support the agency or its programs. Boater-paid fees go back to
boaters in the form of boating access facilities, law enforcement services that protect boater
safety, and education and outreach materials.
“This is a ground-truthing mission and it’s important to connect with people who
recreate on Oregon’s waterways. Understanding what we do and how we deliver services is
only one part of the conversation,” Brewen adds. “But how do boaters want us to serve
them? We want to find balance, equitability, and a way to meet all boaters’ needs. We want
boaters to tell us how to achieve it.”
To learn more about the Marine Board’s strategic plan and
the activities being implemented by various external advisory committees,

visit http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/pages/admin/strategicplan.aspx.
If you are unable to make it to a listening session but want to
weigh in, or stay informed about what happened, visit http://marineboard.wordpress.com/