Important announcement of a hearing on water use rights in Portland, Oregon.
Click here to download this alert as a PDF.
The Water Sports Alert Network (WSAN) is your ALERT system to let you and your dealers know what is going on in their area and in other parts of the world that could affect them.
This network comes to you via courtesy of the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA). Please forward this document to your dealer network. It may be the most important information you share.
WHO: The Oregon State Marine Board
WHAT: Rules that impact Wakeboarding
WHERE: Holgate Channel – water around Ross Island in downtown Portland.
WHEN: Public Hearings 2-17-2011.
Contact the Oregon State Marine Board at:
PO Box 14145
435 Commercial St NE #400
Salem, OR 97309-5065
(Or Ph: 508-378-2623).
Comments due 2-17-2011
WHY: The State Marine Board has proposed amendments to the boating rules impacting Holgate Channel. The proposal will prohibit the use of wake enhancing devices in the Holgate Channel and establish a slow-no-wake zone in the area.
This is the second hearing. The WSIA has been in contact with Portland Ski Boat Center and Active Water Sports. Both of these dealers are feeling the financial impact of this proposed shut down. In speaking to both, the negative press is starting to hurt their business. The dealer is the backbone of our industry, we must help them.
There is a group of organized individuals (wakeboarders) that have retained an attorney to help them fight this matter. This group cannot afford to carry all the expenses. Our financial help is needed. We have asked this group to come to the Summit and brief us on all the consequences if this matter was to pass into law.
This battle is turning into a power boat vs. paddle boat issue. The only way to fight this is on the economic front. We have to be able to show the economic impact of such sanctions on the entire community. This closure will have economic effects on everything from gas to food, not just boat and board sales.
Please forward to your dealers and contact Mark at Portland Ski Boat Center, (1-800-645- 0445) or Matt (1-800-832-7547) at Active Water Sports.
You can also contact Aaron Jarvis at (503-367-2872) or aaron@ajservices.com who is organizing the wakeboarding community.
Originally Posted 2-10-11
