Oregon State Marine Board

09/04/2026

Joint News Release from Douglas County Parks, ODFW, and the Marine Board - Cooper Creek County Park Boat Dock Improvements Completed; Facilities Reopen Friday
Date: 09/03/26

(Douglas County, Ore.) – Douglas County Parks, in partnership with the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), are pleased to announce the completion of the Cooper Creek County Park Boat Dock Replacement Project. The west boat ramp, dock and parking lot will reopen to the public on Friday, September 4, 2026, just in time for the Labor Day weekend.

The project included the replacement of the park’s aging East and West boat docks, parking lot paving and related accessibility improvements. The upgrades were designed to improve public safety, accessibility and the overall recreational experience for boaters and visitors to Cooper Creek County Park. Construction began in June with improvements to the East Boat Ramp and continued in July with the closure of the West Boat Ramp to accommodate construction activities. During the project, Douglas County Parks worked closely with its project partners and contractors to maintain public boating access by keeping at least one launch facility available throughout the construction process. With the reopening of the West Boat Ramp, both the East and West boat ramps and docks will once again be open and available for public use.

“We are excited to have this important project completed and to welcome the public back to the West Boat Ramp in time for Labor Day weekend,” said Douglas County Parks Director, Mark Wall. “These improvements will provide safer, more accessible and better-quality facilities for our community and visitors who enjoy Cooper Creek Reservoir. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while this work was underway.”

Douglas County extends its appreciation to Topper Industries I, LLC, which completed the dock replacement work, and JRT Construction, LLC, which completed the paving improvements. The project was completed on time and under budget. The County also thanks the Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the numerous funding partners who helped make these improvements possible. Project funding was provided through OSMB Boating Facility Grant using funds paid by motorized boaters, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sport Fish Restoration funds administered through ODFW, the Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby, the Sutherlin Rotary Club and matching Douglas County Parks revenue funds.

The reopening comes just in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend, providing visitors with full access to the improved boating facilities at the 166-acre Cooper Creek Reservoir. Douglas County Parks reminds visitors to use caution as they return to the newly improved facilities and to follow all posted signs and park rules.

Cooper Creek County Park is located approximately three miles southeast of Sutherlin and provides recreational access to Cooper Creek Reservoir. Douglas County operates and maintains the facilities at Cooper Creek Reservoir through a long-standing inter-governmental agreement with the Sutherlin Water Control District. The Douglas County Parks Department was established in 1949 and was the first County Park system in Oregon. Today, the Park system encompasses 70 properties, including 23 boat ramps, 11 campgrounds and 42 day-use parks.

For more information, links are in the comments.

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09/04/2026

Your input is sought in developing a future plan for the Little North Fork Santiam River Recreation Management Planning. Two open houses are planned, with details in the shared post below.

Public Input Needed: Little North Fork of the Santiam River Recreation Planning

Marion County, the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Department of Forestry are working together on a Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the North Fork Corridor along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River.

Following the impacts of the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire, the agencies are working to develop a long-term, collaborative approach to recreation management that balances public access, visitor safety, natural resource protection, and quality recreation opportunities.

The North Fork Corridor stretches approximately 20 miles along North Fork Road and the Little North Santiam River, from Highway 22 near Lyons to the Opal Creek Wilderness.
Your input matters! The public is invited to attend an open house, ask questions, learn more about the planning effort, and share ideas about the future of recreation in the corridor.

📍 Salem Open House
Monday, September 14
4:30–7:30 p.m.
Salem Kroc Center
1865 Bill Frey Dr., Salem

📍 Lyons Open House
Tuesday, September 15
5:00–6:30 p.m.
Lyons Fire Department
1114 Main St., Lyons

An online survey and virtual open house will also be available for those unable to attend in person.
Learn more and follow project updates through Marion County Parks.

This is an opportunity for local residents and recreation users to help shape the future of the Little North Fork corridor. We encourage you to get involved and share your voice!

https://www.co.marion.or.us/parks

09/02/2026

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is conducting a survey of boaters for 2026. This effort is to provide detailed estimates in every state of how many people go boating, what types of boats they use, and how often they go boating. This survey is funded under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the USCG.

The ongoing 2026 survey is important because one hasn't been done since 2020. Prior to 2020, the Coast Guard regularly conducted the survey going back to 1973. Prior to 2020, the last one conducted was in 2018.

The survey is being conducted via a cooperative agreement by NORC at the University of Chicago, a non-partisan research organization conducting research and analysis for more than 80 years. As part of this year-long initiative, NORC continues to interview more than 50,000 households across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to gather information from individuals who own or rent boats. The results will provide valuable information to national, state, and local agencies through both national and state-level estimates.

It's not too late to participate. Boaters still have a chance to sign up and be randomly selected to receive a survey before the current collection period ends. To sign up, please visit https://norcfed.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ezfBlrTYxLdG4e and fill out the short form.

Respondent information will be held in the strictest confidence, and data will be grouped to produce statistical summaries.

The U.S. Coast Guard is the national coordinator for the National Recreational Boating Safety Program, established by the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971. This foundational act empowers the Coast Guard to enhance safety on our nation's waterways by setting standards for boat construction, improving accident investigations and reporting, and providing crucial financial assistance to programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six U.S. territories. Through the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, the Recreational Boating Safety Program remains a cornerstone of our commitment to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all recreational boaters. The National Recreational Boating Safety Program estimates 95,000 lives have been saved since the Program’s inception. The most recent year of information recorded the fewest deaths in the Program’s history.

For more information about the NRBSS, visit https://www.uscg.mil/Boating-Safety/Statistics/NRBSS/
For further assistance or questions, contact [email protected].

09/01/2026

Join the Marine Board crew in wishing long-time Title and Registration Team Lead and Assistant Manager Melinda Harrison, "Steady winds and following seas" in retirement!

Melinda started with the Marine Board in 1992 in a temporary data entry position. The stars aligned, and she was hired as a permanent full-time employee in 1993, rising through the ranks and serving 33 years with the agency.

Melinda has been a cornerstone in the agency's foundation, seeing tremendous change and growth over three decades. From microfiche records and rows of filing cabinets to digital technology and streamlined operations.

We're going to miss you. Melinda! The entire crew is so grateful for all of your contributions to the agency, with your thumbprint. Now it's time to "Go Play!"

09/01/2026

News Release - Labor Day Weekend Boating -Planning, Preparing for Perfect Play
Date: 09/01/26

Labor Day Weekend family boating traditions are rooted in the outdoors, and to keep things safe, the Oregon State Marine Board suggests taking the time to plan your on-water getaway with the following tips:

Know your waterway. “Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the dangers that come with natural waterbodies such as current, tides, and wind,” says Randy Sigman, interim Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “Look out for wood, other debris, and shallow gravel bars or shoaling that can catch motorized boaters off-guard with these low water levels.” Find out if the access site is open or closed either due to low water impacts on boat ramps or wildfires. The Marine Board compiles a weekly report on water levels, access closures, and alternate nearby locations in its Opportunities and Access Report. Closures are also indicated in the Boat Oregon Online Map of access sites in Oregon.

Wear your life jacket. Each boat (including canoes and kayaks, rafts, inflatable boats, and stand up paddleboards) must have a properly fitted life jacket for each person on board and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets need to be in good shape and readily accessible – not under a hatch or in their packaging. All youth younger than 13 must wear a life jacket when in a boat that’s underway. Since storage space is limited on paddlecraft, it makes the most sense to just wear a life jacket. Conditions can change very quickly, and there’s no time to put on a life jacket in an emergency. So far this season, most of the victims of recreational boating fatalities were paddlers who were not wearing life jackets.

Know what rules apply. There are all types of watercraft on the market; some are considered boats and others are pool toys. Boats are designed differently and, by state law, have specific equipment requirements. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control, and can puncture easily. Float in a watercraft designed for a river that won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.” Sigman adds.

Boat Sober. Boating is a great social activity, and the Marine Board encourages anyone recreating on the water to leave the alcohol on shore. It’s safer for everyone. If arrested for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII), violators can be fined up to $6,250, can lose boating privileges for up to three years, and even serve jail time. Intoxicants include ma*****na, illicit drugs, and even some prescriptions.

Sit on the seat inside the boat. Many boaters are tempted to ride on the swim platform, stern, sides, and the bow of open motorboats. The stern can be a dangerous place for exposure to carbon monoxide and a prop-strike safety hazard. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales, or transoms of a motorboat when the boat is underway. Sitting on designated seats is the safest option – especially when the boat is towing someone. Just because new boats have seats on the transom or swim step doesn’t make them legal for use when the boat is underway.

Slow down, keep scanning, and be courteous. Know the boating regulations for your area of operation. Boaters, including personal watercraft, are responsible for damage caused by their wake. Remember to slow down within 200 feet of a dock, launch ramp, marina, moorage, floating home or boathouse, pier, or swim float, even if they don’t have a “Slow No-Wake” buoy or sign. This is a statewide proximity rule that applies to all waterways. Paddlers should stay closer to shore, cross busy channels at right angles only when safe, and allow motorboats to pass in deeper water. Be courteous, share the water, and recreate responsibly.

For more information about equipment requirements, boating regulations, and ideas on where to go boating, visit the Marine Board’s website.

-End-

Pictured: Mixed-use boaters (motorized outboard, PWC, and kayakers) sharing the Coquille River near the mouth of the Pacific Ocean.

08/31/2026

Recreational use advisory issued for Eckman Lake, Lincoln County
Media Release from OHA on 08/28/26

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for Eckman Lake due to the presence of a cyanotoxins above Recreational Use Value (RUVs).

People should avoid swimming and other water activities with a high risk of swallowing water or inhaling water droplets in areas of the river, lake or reservoir where blooms are present. Ingestion or inhalation of water is the concern because toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA’s RUVs are designed to protect the most vulnerable, including children, who have a higher activity level and are more likely to swallow water while recreating.

*OHA encourages people to visit Eckman Lake and enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, and motorized or non-motorized boating activities that have a low risk of swallowing or inhaling water droplets.

Drinking water
Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking.
Symptoms for people, pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size, level of activity, and likelihood of swallowing water.
For people, exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crusts along the shore. This is regardless of whether a recreational use health advisory in place. Symptoms in dogs can include difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, and loss of appetite, and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. OHA recommends keeping dogs on leashes, away from affected water and mat material, to help reduce the chance of exposure.

Fishing
Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs, where toxins are more likely to build up, before cooking or freezing. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website (link in the comments).

Photo: Odell Lake Harmful Algae Bloom precaution from July, 2026.

08/31/2026

It may look like a mud puddle, but come November, Sutton Lake near Florence, Oregon, will have a new gangway, boarding dock, and boat ramp!

The Marine Board and Siuslaw National Forest will be sharing updates as the construction project continues. See less

08/28/2026

The Ross Island Lagoon and the Holgate Channel are experiencing what scientists say "...is the most severe and potentially most toxic in a decade..." If you do decide to boat on the Lower Willamette River in downtown Portland with your fur friends, don't let them drink the water, and clean their fur immediately if they get wet. But why risk it?

Even though algae blooms don't necessarily affect recreational boating much, we want to underscore the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying your boat after being on the water (regardless of an algae bloom).

The “megabloom” started in Ross Island lagoon and may be a sign of more trouble ahead.

08/28/2026

The Ross Island Lagoon and the Holgate Channel are experiencing what scientists say "...is the most severe and potentially most toxic in a decade..." If you do decide to boat on the Lower Willamette River in downtown Portland with your fur friends, don't let them drink the water, and clean their fur immediately if they get wet. But why risk it?

Even though algae blooms don't necessarily affect recreational boating much, we want to underscore the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying your boat after being on the water (regardless of an algae bloom).

The “megabloom” started in Ross Island lagoon and may be a sign of more trouble ahead.
https://mrf.lu/2QXJY

08/27/2026

Check out Discover Boating's video all about life jackets. In Oregon, all children 12 and younger must WEAR a properly fitting US Coast Guard life jacket when a boat is underway.
https://youtu.be/KVCNH96HqFs?si=3oSsqxQkZSiye21i