Action Alert-Unprecedented Threat to Fishing/Boating-More than 50% of Multnomah Channel proposed no wake zone.
A resident at Mayfair Moorage has submitted a petition to the Marine Board that would turn roughly half of the 21-mile long Multnomah Channel into a no wake zone, bank to bank. The attached petition summary reads:
“On February 17, 2016, the Marine Board received a petition requesting that the Marine Board open rulemaking to expand the slow-no wake zones on Multnomah Channel; establish a shore-to-shore zone from 500 feet before and 500 feet after any marina, floating home moorage, park, dock, or boat launch ramp on Multnomah Channel.”
The Marine Board is considering a no wake zone in areas of the map in RED.
Multnomah Channel is GROUND ZERO for the most important fishery in our industry, Spring Chinook. As the first salmon fishery of the year, successful Springer fishing tees up the rest of the year for businesses and our customers throughout the region. Imagine you’ve just finished up a 2 mile long drift and now have to travel 5 miles per hour to repeat the same drift, in an outgoing tide. Non-stop, extended ‘speed bumps’ all through the Multnomah Channel will essentially hang up a ‘NO FISHING’ sign in a special place where families have fished for generations. (see interactive map of affected areas here)
This petition is particularly troubling, as the Marine Board has always promulgated rules as a last recourse. Boater education and enforcement have always come first.
What Can You Do?
Provide written comments on the attached petition proposal. You can also submit written comments by mail, fax, or email by 9:00 PM April 14th to: June LeTarte, Rules Coordinator, 435 Commercial St NE; Salem, OR 97301 Fax: 503-378-4597 Email: osmb.rulemaking@state.or.us
Also you can attend a Public Meeting to learn about the petition and provide testimony:
April 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Scappoose High School Auditorium, 33700 SE High School Way, Scappoose OR.
Doing nothing is not an option.