05-05-2011, 11:10 AM
CENTRAL POINT-A boat inspection station operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will open at a highway rest area in Central Point this week to target aquatic invasive species. A number of other stations around the state will open in June.
Travelers are asked to look for "Boat Inspection Ahead" signs and be prepared to pull off at the rest area. Inspections will be conducted on various days of the week at boat ramps and rest areas throughout Oregon. An inspection will take about 10 minutes if boats are free of aquatic species. If a boat is found to be contaminated with aquatic invaders, it will be cleaned by a mobile decontamination team.<br />
By voluntarily stopping for boat inspections, a boater is not subject to penalties or fines associated with transporting aquatic invasive species.<br />
The boat inspection station is part of the Oregon Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, which is run by ODFW and the Oregon Marine Board. The program is funded by the sale of Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention permits which were established by the 2009 State Legislature. The law requires operators of motorboats and paddle craft (non-motorized crafts) that are 10 feet long or longer to have a permit.<br />
Who needs an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit?<br />
Motorized boats<br />
"¢ Registered motorboat owners do not need to buy a permit; a $5 fee is automatically included when renewing a boat registration. Current registration decals are proof of payment.<br />
"¢ Non-resident motorboat permits cost $20 and are available through ODFW's online license sales website, at ODFW license sales agents and ODFW offices that sell licenses. A $2 agent feeapplies.<br />
Paddle craft andother non-motorized boats (canoes, kayaks, drift boats, etc.) 10 feet and over<br />
"¢ Resident and nonresident permits cost $5. Permits are available through ODFW's online license sales website, at ODFW license sales agents, ODFW offices that sell licenses, the Marine Board office in Salem and at Marine Board dealers. A $2 agent fee applies to permits purchased through ODFW channels and Marine Board dealers.<br />
"¢ Paddle craft Tyvek tag permits are available from the Marine Board through the mail for $5 (pdf).<br />
Paddle craft permits and non-resident motorboat permits are interchangeable: The name on the permit does not matter as long as each boat has a permit. A person can purchase multiple permits in their name for use by family members and friends. Clubs can purchase multiple permits for use by members and friends from the Oregon Marine Board. Children 13 years of age and younger are not required to have a permit.<br />
Washington and Idaho boaters<br />
"¢ Washington and Idaho boaters: Washington and Idaho motorboats DO need a permit when boating in Oregon's state waters including lakes, reservoirs, the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette, Deschutes, John Day and other rivers.<br />
"¢ Washington boaters DO NOT need a permit while boating on the Columbia.<br />
"¢ Idaho boaters DO NOT need a permit while on the Snake River, including boat launch sites in Oregon on the Columbia or Snake rivers or tributaries within one river mile of the Columbia and Snake for the purposes of accessing the Snake and Columbia rivers.<br />
Invasive species are identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as one of the biggest threats to the state's native fish, wildlife and habitat.<br />
For more information, visit the Oregon Marine Board or ODFW websites
Travelers are asked to look for "Boat Inspection Ahead" signs and be prepared to pull off at the rest area. Inspections will be conducted on various days of the week at boat ramps and rest areas throughout Oregon. An inspection will take about 10 minutes if boats are free of aquatic species. If a boat is found to be contaminated with aquatic invaders, it will be cleaned by a mobile decontamination team.<br />
By voluntarily stopping for boat inspections, a boater is not subject to penalties or fines associated with transporting aquatic invasive species.<br />
The boat inspection station is part of the Oregon Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, which is run by ODFW and the Oregon Marine Board. The program is funded by the sale of Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention permits which were established by the 2009 State Legislature. The law requires operators of motorboats and paddle craft (non-motorized crafts) that are 10 feet long or longer to have a permit.<br />
Who needs an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit?<br />
Motorized boats<br />
"¢ Registered motorboat owners do not need to buy a permit; a $5 fee is automatically included when renewing a boat registration. Current registration decals are proof of payment.<br />
"¢ Non-resident motorboat permits cost $20 and are available through ODFW's online license sales website, at ODFW license sales agents and ODFW offices that sell licenses. A $2 agent feeapplies.<br />
Paddle craft andother non-motorized boats (canoes, kayaks, drift boats, etc.) 10 feet and over<br />
"¢ Resident and nonresident permits cost $5. Permits are available through ODFW's online license sales website, at ODFW license sales agents, ODFW offices that sell licenses, the Marine Board office in Salem and at Marine Board dealers. A $2 agent fee applies to permits purchased through ODFW channels and Marine Board dealers.<br />
"¢ Paddle craft Tyvek tag permits are available from the Marine Board through the mail for $5 (pdf).<br />
Paddle craft permits and non-resident motorboat permits are interchangeable: The name on the permit does not matter as long as each boat has a permit. A person can purchase multiple permits in their name for use by family members and friends. Clubs can purchase multiple permits for use by members and friends from the Oregon Marine Board. Children 13 years of age and younger are not required to have a permit.<br />
Washington and Idaho boaters<br />
"¢ Washington and Idaho boaters: Washington and Idaho motorboats DO need a permit when boating in Oregon's state waters including lakes, reservoirs, the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette, Deschutes, John Day and other rivers.<br />
"¢ Washington boaters DO NOT need a permit while boating on the Columbia.<br />
"¢ Idaho boaters DO NOT need a permit while on the Snake River, including boat launch sites in Oregon on the Columbia or Snake rivers or tributaries within one river mile of the Columbia and Snake for the purposes of accessing the Snake and Columbia rivers.<br />
Invasive species are identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as one of the biggest threats to the state's native fish, wildlife and habitat.<br />
For more information, visit the Oregon Marine Board or ODFW websites