FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14, 2023

Contact: Emily Bowes, 541-488-9831, emily@rogueriverkeeper.org

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department shelves jet boat concession at TouVelle State Recreation Site

White City, OR – After several months of deliberation the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (“OPRD”) has decided to forego a commercial concession agreement at the 59-acre TouVelle State Recreation Site on the Rogue River. OPRD had previously engaged in a “Special Use Permit '' with commercial jet boat company, Rogue Jetboat Adventures, allowing the company to advertise their business, offer parking, ticket sales, and dedicated loading and unloading space within the park boundaries. This annual Special Use Permit expired in October of 2022 and OPRD began exploring a five-year commercial concession agreement.

In late fall, Rogue Riverkeeper requested that OPRD develop a process for the users of the recreation site to provide public input on the decision to open Touvelle State Recreation Site to long-term commercial use. In December of 2022, OPRD distributed a public survey and held a public listening session for members of the community to provide feedback on the potential impacts of a commercial jet boat concession agreement at Touvelle State Recreation Site on park user experience. Over 1,600 park users, adjacent landowners, recreationists, and the general public responded to the survey and almost 1,000 letters were sent to OPRD from Rogue Riverkeeper and Native Fish Society supporters. 

On February 13th, the Office of the Director of Oregon Park and Recreation Department released a statement that the department staff will not be pursuing any further development of the commercial concession agreement for commercial jet boats at Touvelle State Recreation Site at this time. OPRD District Manager Dani Padilla stated, “The park has to be ready, and we have work to do updating TouVelle before we consider adding new services.” Rogue Jetboat Adventures may still use the park boat ramp to service their customers but are restricted to the same rules as any other visitor to the park. This decision by OPRD does not affect any of the commercial jet boat activities on the Rogue River which is controlled by the Oregon State Marine Board. 

“Touvelle State Recreation Sites provides the public with some of the best access to the upper Rogue River and we should not allow one company to profit from public lands that are providing a service to those with less access to travel to other river access points, especially a company whose activities are known to potentially impact sensitive aquatic species and the riparian zone that is sensitive to erosion.” says Rogue Riverkeeper Conservation Director Emily Bowes.  

Many members of the community and local advocacy organizations like Rogue Riverkeeper and Native Fish Society plan to continue to advocate for stronger restrictions on commercial jet boat activity on the Rogue River to protect this valuable waterway that we all enjoy.