Oregon

Capacity Plate Awareness
Dick Bielenberg from Salem uses a four-pane window illustration to enhance understanding of the capacity plate. The panes include: # of people; weight; horsepower; and combined people, gear and motor—“breaking any pane = a broken window.” From his background as a firefighter, he discussed NFPA inspection points. He uses a transparent plastic bottle with baking soda to illustrate how powder packs down when fire extinguishers are mounted vertically.

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program
Randy Henry described the current Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program for Oregon. The 2009 Legislature directed the formation to create a dedicated funding mechanism to support on-the-ground activities, to be implemented by the Oregon State Marine Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The program was modeled after Idaho’s program and was started in 2009. The new permit fees were instituted on January 1, 2010; 40% goes to ODFW, 40% to OSMB, and 20% to law enforcement. The revenue goes directly into a dedicated fund to cover: mobile boat decontamination equipment, inspection teams, signage, education materials, and training. The permit includes a sticker to be placed on the bow. Randy also discussed the “Clean Launch Law” (HB 2583), which was passed by the 2009 Legislature. It prohibits launch if there are any visible aquatic species on the hull, motor, trailer or related equipment within the boat. The law focuses on the launch, not the transport or retrieval of a boat. Another bill addresses cleaning, draining, and drying; wake board boats are required to hot-water flush after each launching. A handout Boating Related Rules Adopted in 2009 was distributed.

Oregon Clean Boater Program
Glenn Dolphin, the new AIS Coordinator, presented the “Oregon Clean Boater Program” – protecting Oregon’s marine environment.” Boaters who sign the pledge receive a kit–only one kit per registered boat. This program is one year old. Oregon’s “Clean Marina Program” is three years old. At this time, 47 out of 190 marinas have signed up; sixteen more marina/moorages are in process.

Resources

 * U.S. Coast Guard District
 * U.S. Coast Guard Sector
 * U.S. Coast Guard Sector
 * Local Notice to Mariners
 * U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District
 * State Boating Agency
 * State Boating Course
 * State Boating Laws from NASBLA
 * State Education Requirements from BoatUS Foundation
 * Boating Courseline from BoatUS Foundation
 * Marine forecasts from the National Weather Service
 * Online navigation charts from NOAA and Google
 * Sea Scout Ships (units) from Sea Scouts BSA