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State Marine Board adopts Siletz River motor limits, sets March 31, 2027 start and authorizes up to $500,000 for Old Mill Park upgrades
Summary
The Oregon State Marine Board voted to adopt staff's Siletz River rule (horsepower/slow‑no‑wake limits and no motors above Old Mill Park), set an effective date of March 31, 2027, and directed staff to accelerate facility improvements at Old Mill Park with up to $500,000 authorized for grants to the city to speed permitting and early work.
Chair Jackson moved the board to finalize the rule package for the Siletz River and set an implementation date to give guides and the community time to prepare. “So, I would like to make a motion that we adopt the proposed rule language with an added item D with an effective date of 03/31/2027,” Chair Jackson said, and Member Amber Lambert seconded the motion.
The adopted language mirrors staff's proposal: a horsepower ceiling between Jack Morgan Park and Old Mill Park with a slow, no‑wake speed limit, a no‑motor restriction above Old Mill Park and added protections for upstream tributaries. Staff described the rulemaking as grounded in conflict‑avoidance authority cited in the record (the staff memo references the ORS provision included in the packet). Members debated whether to set the horsepower at the historically used 15 hp or align with a 10 hp enforcement practice; staff flagged both as options but noted enforcement partners frequently reference the 10 hp threshold.
Board members also weighed timing to avoid disrupting booked guide trips and salmon/steelhead seasons; staff confirmed education and signage work would begin immediately even if the effective date was set later. The board added a separate, non‑rule direction: staff should work with the city to improve Old Mill Park and the director was authorized to award up to $500,000 in facility grant funds to help accelerate permitting, pre‑purchase materials and safety improvements so the site will better handle anticipated user loads.
The board approved the motion on a roll call and the chair declared the motion passed. The direction to staff pairs the rule adoption with an operational funding authorization intended to reduce immediate community and guide impacts while the rule becomes effective in March 2027.
