UPDATED DECEMBER 2024: OSMB has proposed a rule for jet boats on the Upper Rogue
December 2024 Update:
After proposing a rule in November, then having a hearing in Medford and the required comment period, the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) now wants to tweak their proposed rule and has now brought forth a revision and as required by law, will have another hearing and comment period. So this saga of “OSMB rules for the Upper Rogue” continues and we are being asked to again provide our comments to the Marine Board.
The latest addition to the proposed rule is a restriction to “all boating activities” between May 8th and September 10th in the event that the river flow rate drops below a three day average flow of 1350 cubic feet per second, ("CFS") as measured by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) at Dodge Bridge. Boating is not allowed until the three day average flow increases above 1350 CFS.
The thing is, according to the USGS data, the flow (at least in the last few years) does not drop that low during the operational calendar for Rogue Jet Boat Adventures (RBJA) , the one business who is having the most impact and for whom the OSMB has carved out the regulations to have little impact. The OSMB staff member who drafted the proposed rule stated on the record that he reviewed the website and information from RJBA to decide how to draft the proposed rule.
Take action!
Comments on this next version of the proposed rule will be accepted until January 21, by 11:55 pm. You can submit your comment here, or send your comment via mail to Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.
Rogue Riverkeeper will continue to ask that motorized boats over 10 HP to be restricted all year round from the Upper Rogue River and tributaries, regardless of the flow, ideally, from Fisher’s Ferry to Lost Creek Lake. This will protect the tributaries and main stem Rogue during the summer. While the new addition to the proposed rule does provide some additional protection during the lowest of flows, the numerous trips by RBJA won’t be impacted, and as they have the highest number of trips and only during this summer season, that impact will remain under the current draft of the proposed rule.
The OSMB will have its next hearing on January 15, 2025 from 11 am to 1 pm, virtual only. You can join the hearing by clicking here. For testimony via phone, call +1 503-446-4951,,137119861# (access code)
Commercial jetboat on the Upper Rogue River. Credit: Whitney Hassett
Rogue Riverkeeper stands with a broad coalition who seek to eliminate the environmental impacts of high power jet boats on the Upper Rogue. While the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) listened to our requests in October to protect the Upper Rogue via comments and a public hearing in Medford, the proposed rule they have presented is business as usual for the charter operator that is currently the main source of conflict and impacting the river with hundreds of trips each summer.
Let’s make sure the Marine Board knows this rule is not going to cut it!
While we did get a partial win with the proposed rule limiting watercraft over 10hp year-round upstream of Dodge Bridge—which includes Shady Cove and up to William Jess Dam (Lost Creek Dam)—those exact same protections are still needed between Dodge Bridge and the Table Rock Road Bridge. The OSMB seems to have tailored its rule to protect the operations of the one single commercial operator, Rogue Jet Boat Adventures (RJBA), but for the same reasons that the Marine Board has protected the river upstream of Dodge Bridge, they need to include the Rogue between Dodge Bridge and Table Rock Road as well. If this section of the Rogue is not included in the protections, the conflicts with traditional users like swimmers, fishers, and non-power boaters, safety concerns, and the impacts to the ecological health of the river will continue in this section of river.
Rogue Jet Adventures operating out of Touvelle State Recreation Site. Credit: Jamie Lusch
At the October 2nd OSMB workshop in Medford, 22 members of the public had the courage to speak in favor of restricting high speed boats to protect the vital ecological processes of the river and the safety of the traditional users. Only two people spoke in favor of RJBA. Many speakers gave specific examples of personal experiences where their safety was threatened by RJBA. Numerous scientific studies show the noise and wakes from high speed jet boats can disrupt ecologic systems essential to maintaining native fish in the Rogue. In addition, spokespeople from groups including Rogue Riverkeeper, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and Native Fish Society—all of who were representing their many thousands of members—spoke and sent in comments in the river’s favor.
At the Marine Board’s October 23 meeting, Alan Hanson, OSMB Policy & Environmental Program Manager, said they had looked at Rogue Jet Boat Adventures’ website in order to assign the dates of May 8-September 10 as exceptions to their 10 horsepower regulation. Why has the OSMB, a state agency, made an exception to their recommendation that allows one commercial company to continue operating and given that one business priority over the interests, safety, and rights of thousands of others who submitted comments?
What Rogue Riverkeeper is asking for:
The Rogue River should be protected from Table Rock Road to William L. Jess Dam, (Lost Creek Dam) and we request that the Proposed Rule be edited as follows:
Upper Rogue River and its Tributaries:
No person shall use a motor in excess of 10 horsepower to propel a boat between Fishers Ferry County Park and William L. Jess Dam, (Lost Creek Dam).
Notwithstanding the above provision, the use of motors above 10 horsepower are allowed between the dates of May 8 and September 10, on the main stem of the Rogue River between Fishers Ferry County Park and the Table Rock Road bridge.
This requested edit to the proposed rule will restrict motors above 10 hp year round to no further upstream than Table Rock Road bridge, instead of Dodge Bridge (which is upstream of the Table Rock Road bridge) so will protect more of the river.
The Marine Board’s Proposed Rule
Upper Rogue River and its Tributaries:
No person shall use a motor in excess of 10 horsepower to propel a boat between Fishers Ferry County Park and William L. Jess Dam, (Lost Creek Dam).
Notwithstanding the above provision, the use of motors above 10 horsepower are allowed between the dates of May 8 and September 10, on the main stem of the Rogue River between Fishers Ferry County Park and Dodge Bridge County Park.
Subject to the above seasonal horsepower restrictions, Charter boat operations:
Charter boats may not operate upstream of Rattlesnake Rapids.
Between Table Rock Road Bridge and Rattlesnake Rapids,
Charter boats may only operate between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm.
The total number of all charter boat trips may not exceed
300 trips per year.
There are several ways to express your opinion on this proposed rule.
Take action online NOW: We have written a letter you can easily edit or send in to the OSMB right now. Click here to take action now.
Attend the OSMB hearing in person: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Public Hearing in Medford (RCC HEC Building, 114 S. Bartlett Street, Medford OR 97501)
Join the OSMB hearing online: see this webpage for the link to join the Dec. 4 meeting.
Join the OSMB hearing via phone: dial: 503-446-4951 Conference ID: 475 496 462#
Submit written comments: Deadline for written comments on the staff recommendation to be into OSMB: Friday, December 20, 2024, by 12:55 pm
Written comments can be submitted by by U.S. mail to: Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. Copy Governor Tina Kotek with your comments at 900 Court Street, Suite 254, Salem, Oregon 97301-4047.
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