Legislation that will kick hundreds of families off the Upper Willamette River has been scheduled for a virtual public hearing on February 9 at 3:15pm. It’s crucial the boating community band together and attend the virtual hearing to show our senators that the majority of the community does not support SB 1589.
Sign up to testify here: https://survey.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cXSBg2qj6CkhJXw
Thank you boating community for your unwavering support! Voicing opposition was vital to defeating this same legislation in 2021 and now more than ever it is imperative for us to speak out every step of the way. Ask your local lawmakers at the hearing to support Oregon families and small businesses by opposing SB 1589. Tell them: The Newberg Pool should be safely shared.
The bill will crush the Newberg Pool boating community by banning wake surfing outright, arbitrarily limiting all other towed sports such as tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding to boats under 5,000 pounds and extending the Newberg Pool from Willamette Falls to the mouth of the Yamhill River. Find out more in this fact sheet.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE VIRTUAL HEARING
Register online at:
https://survey.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cXSBg2qj6CkhJXw
Choose ‘I want to speak’ ‘AGAINST’ for your position on the bill. You will see a confirmation screen and receive an email with information on how to join the meeting. If you do not receive a confirmation, contact the committee assistant. Advanced registration is required to testify.
HOW TO TESTIFY AT THE VIRTUAL HEARING
Use the MS Teams meeting link or phone number to join the committee or subcommittee meeting at least 5 minutes before the meeting start time.
During the hearing your camera and microphone should be off/muted until you are called upon to testify.
Wait for the Chair to call on you to speak.
Follow any instructions from the Chair for your testimony. This may include a time limit; in some cases, the Chair will use a chime to indicate when you need to finish.
Testimony can be as simple as a 1–2-minute statement on why you oppose this legislation. Sample talking points are included below.
Be respectful, courteous and professional.
Additional information about how to testify is available here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/How-to-Testify.aspx
WHY OPPOSE
SB 1589 will strip safe, socially distant outdoor opportunities for hundreds of families along the Newberg Pool and impact local small businesses who depend on their support.
Residential development, not boat wakes, is the primary human-caused source of erosion. There is broad agreement that the lack of native vegetation and homeowner mismanagement of native trees has caused the majority of erosion. Furthermore, natural occurrences such as last winter’s storm have a greater impact on river health than boating.
There is no empirical evidence or peer-reviewed study that links the proposed restrictions to having any positive effect on fish populations. Wake sports largely take place in the summer, outside of key migratory or spawning months. Studies show that wake boats waves, when operated at least 200 feet from shore, do not carry enough energy to have a significant impact on most shorelines.
The Newberg Pool is already one of the most regulated bodies of water in Oregon. Wake surfers are subject to a weight limit, required to obtain a special safety certification and only allowed in two small zones with no adjacent homes or docks.
This bill not only exacerbates safety issues, but it also fails to solve a primary issue – enforcement. The state has already struggled to enforce the extensive laws and rules we have, and the bill does not address how to deal with the worst offenders who make the river dangerous for everybody.
Subjecting only towed water sports enthusiasts to a weight limit is overtly biased. A 5,000-pound fishing boat can produce a similar wake to the same size tow boat. Furthermore a 15,000 cabin cruiser that produces a wake far greater than any wake surfing boat can still operate freely under this legislation.
HOW TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY
If you cannot attend the hearing, please submit written testimony by 2/10/22 at 3:15pm. You can also attend the hearing and submit written testimony. Here’s how to submit written testimony:
Go to: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2022R1/Testimony/SEE
On the testimony submission form, choose meeting date “2/9/2022 3:15 PM” from the drop-down menu
Select 'SB 1589’' from the bill list
Fill in the name, email address and city of residence fields
Choose ‘oppose’ for position on this bill
Choose 'text testimony'
Tell the Oregon Legislature why you oppose this bill. A few sentences are fine. Include how this bill will impact your family or business.