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Oregon State Marine Board
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About Us
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program (AISPP)?
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This new program focuses on protecting Oregon's waterways from invasive species. The
Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will implement the program. Funds generated from this program will fund five regional inspection teams, pay for
education/outreach materials, voluntary boat inspections and decontamination of infested
boats. The fees will also pay for training, decontamination equipment and the infrastructure
needed to produce the permits.
WHY THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT TO OREGON'S WATERWAYS
Oregon’s new Aquatic Invasive Species Program became a priority for the 2009 Oregon Legislature as
demand grew for an enhanced effort to prevent a devastating introduction of zebra or quagga mussels
into Oregon’s waters. Several aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as Eurasian watermilfoil, New
Zealand mud snails and others, are already present in Oregon, damaging waterways and costing
waterway and fishery managers – and ultimately taxpayers, boaters and anglers – millions. This new
program is not as complete a response as some would have liked, but it greatly increases current
prevention programs.
Click here to learn more about the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Why do boaters need an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit (AISPP)?
Aquatic invasive species seriously damage waterbodies. Species like the quagga mussel and
Eurasian watermilfoil "hitchhike" from one body of water to the next, primarily on boats. Revenues from permits will fund a new statewide prevention program to help protect our waters.
Quagga and zebra mussels can quickly encrust surfaces and cause severe economic and
environmental harm. If they spread to the Pacific Northwest, the threats to hydropower,
irrigated agriculture, drinking water, recreation and salmon recovery will be immeasurable. The
invasive mussels were first found in the West in 2007. Quagga and zebra mussels have spread
throughout the lower Colorado River system and major water distribution systems. They now
infest waterbodies in NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, COLORADO, TEXAS and UTAH. Are there any exemptions to the new law?
Yes, but they're very limited and specific.
Boats and float toys under 10 feet in length
State, county and municipality-owned watercraft used for official business
A ship's lifeboat used solely for lifesaving purposes
Seaplanes
The Lightship Columbia
Eleemosynary groups (Eleemosynary organizations are those which are operated primarily as a
part of organized activities for the purpose of teaching youths scoutcraft, camping, seamanship,
self-reliance, patriotism, courage and kindred virtues). Defined in ORS 830.790.
Is there a minimum age?
The Marine Board has adopted language setting the minimum age requirement for the Aquatic
Invasive Species Prevention Permit to age 14, making it consistent with Oregon's fishing license
requirement. Manually powered boats 10 feet long and longer are required to have an Aquatic Invasive
Species Prevention permit on board ONLY if the operator is an individual age 14 or older. Youth 13 or younger are not required to carry a permit. Note that all boats under 10 feet are
exempt from the permit requirement.
What if I don't purchase a permit?
Law Enforcement Officers will issue warnings for the first few months of the program. By the
2010 boating season, they will begin actively enforcing the new law which is a Class D Violation
which carries a $142 fine.
What if I lose my permit? How do I get a replacement?
No replacements will be issued. Boaters will need to purchase another permit.
Non-Motorized and Paddle Craft
What does this mean for those with manually powered boats (paddlecraft)?
Manually powered boats (paddle boards, rafts, drift boats, kayaks, canoes, etc.) 10 feet long
and longer will need to carry one permit per boat when in use.
Permits are transferrable to other manually powered craft. Permits can be loaned to friends and family members. For example:
1. If there are three people in a drift boat, only one of
them is required to carry a permit. 2. If there are three people in three kayaks, each
individual needs to carry a permit on board.
The same permit is required for Oregon residents AND
non-residents using manually powered boats. Permits are printed on water-resistant paper and easy
to carry, similar to a fishing license.
Why do motorized boats pay $5 every two years and
non-motorized $7 ($5 permit plus $2 agent fee) each year?
Boat registration decals are non-transferrable -they adhere to the bow of the boat. However,
manually powered permits are transferrable. The person can use it on other non-motorized
boats. Permits are NOT transferrable to motorized craft.
What about sailboats under 12 feet?
Sailboats under 12 feet are not required to be registered with the Marine Board. So if a sailboat
is between 10 and 12 feet, the boater will also need a $7 annual permit ($5 + $2 agent fee). What about livery (rental businesses)?
Non-motorized liveries (rental businesses) will receive a quantity discount on permits which must
be purchased directly from the Oregon State Marine Board. What about clubs?
Clubs can purchase multiple permits for use by members and friends.
What about Stand-Up Paddle Boards (SUP's). Do they need a permit?
YES. The USCG determined that stand-up paddle boards are considered boats for the purpose of
life jacket requirements. Based on this determination, and if the stand-up paddle board is 10
feet or longer, the operator would need to have a permit.
What about manually powered boats from Washington or Idaho?
Manually powered boats from Idaho that are 10 feet long or longer and affixed with an Idaho
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention sticker do not need an Oregon permit if paddling within
the mainstem of the Columbia or Snake Rivers.
Manually powered boats from Washington or Idaho may launch in Oregon tributaries within ONE
RIVER MILE of the Columbia or Snake rivers (common interstate boundary waters) without a
permit, for the purposes of accessing the Columbia and Snake rivers.
All manually powered boats UNDER 10 feet long are exempt from the permit requirement.
Does this mean non-motorized boats will have to be registered?
No. Non-motorized boats are NOT titled or registered under the program. Fees from
permits are deposited directly into a fund dedicated to this program. They do not benefit the
state's general fund. Some of the funds will be transferred to ODFW to implement the program
and Oregon State Police for law enforcement services.
What about surf boards or wind boards? Do they need a permit?
No, based on the definition of a "boat." All "boats" 10 feet long or longer will need
an aquatic invasive species prevention permit. The AIS permit rule (250-010-0650) includes "manually powered boat" which requires an
aquatic invasive species prevention permit. A "boat" is defined in ORS 830.005 (2): “Boat”
means every description of watercraft, including a seaplane on the water and not in flight, used
or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water, but does not include
boathouses, floating homes, air mattresses, beach and water toys or single inner tubes. Registered Motor Boats
What does this mean to the motor boater with a boat registered in Oregon?
Registered boaters (including registered sailboats 12 feet and longer) will pay an additional $5
surcharge when they renew their boat registration. Current boat decals (which are stickers that
attach to the bow of the boat) are proof that you've paid the permit fee. Renewal notifications
will itemize the cost of registration and the $5 surcharge so boaters understand how their fees
are used.
If your registration expires next year (December 31, 2010), you do not need to have a permit
for the 2010 boating season. The fee will automatically be added when you renew your
registration for 2011.
If you also have paddle craft in addition to your motorized vessel, you will need individual
permits when the paddle craft are in use. Permits for non-motorized vessels are being sold
through www.dfw.state.or.us/online_license_sales/index.asp.
What about motorized boats in multi-jurisdictional waters like the Columbia and Snake
rivers?
Boats registered in Washington or Idaho do not need an Oregon-issued Aquatic Invasive
Species Prevention Permit to operate or launch from Oregon into the Columbia or Snake Rivers,
or tributaries within ONE RIVER MILE of the Columbia and Snake Rivers for the purposes of
accessing them.
Washington and Idaho boaters need a permit when boating in Oregon's state waters
including reservoirs, the Multnomah Channel, the Willamette, Deschutes, John Day and other
rivers.
Washington boaters pay a surcharge for aquatic invasive species prevention when they register
their boats in Washington.
Idaho has a similar Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit program. Registered boaters
from Idaho have a permit affixed to their boats. What about drift boats with auxiliary motors?
If the drift boat is currently registered, and expires December 31, 2011, the next time you renew
the boat registration, the $5 permit fee will automatically be included. That means the boater
doesn't need to do anything in 2010. Law enforcement will be initially focused on the
registration decals.
If your registration is due to expire, then your renewal notification will already include the $5
fee.
What about sail boats? Are they exempt?
No. Owners of sailboats between 10' and 12' must also have a permit. They will need to
purchase the $7 permit from an ODFW license agent or online.
Sailboats 12' and longer are required to register their boat with the Marine Board and the fee is
automatically included with the registration fee.
Can I use a non-motorized permit for my power boat?
No. Non-motorized permits are like a fishing license that the paddler needs to have with them
when using the boat on the water. Can I use my registration decals if I want to use my kayak or canoe?
No. Motorized boats have a registration decal that adheres to the bow of the motor boat -and
are not transferrable to other watercraft. A separate permit needs to be purchased for the
kayak or canoe.
Out-of-State Visitors (trailered motorboats)
What about out-of-state visitors?
Non-resident motor boaters who trailer a boat into the state and launch in Oregon's waters
are required to purchase a non-resident permit. The permit costs $22 ($20 permit + $2 agent
fee).
Permits will be available ONLY through ODFW license agents, ODFW offices that sell licenses and
on the ODFW web site.
Out-of-state permits will not be sold through boat registration agents or the Oregon State
Marine Board. What if an out-of-state motor boater also has a manually powered boat they want to use?
The $22 non-resident motorized permit is NOT transferrable to the manually powered craft.
If the manually powered boat is in use, then the operator will need to carry a $7 permit.
Ocean-going recreational boats
Do I need a permit if I'm an ocean-only boater? Yes. Oregon waters are defined as from the coastal shoreline to three miles out to sea. What if I'm only crabbing in a coastal bay or estuary?
Boaters will also need to have a permit.
Where to Purchase Permits
Permits can be purchased at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife license agents ODFW
offices that sell licenses (www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/licenses), and online at ODFW's website
(www.dfw.or.state.us/online_license_sales/index.asp). If a permit is purchased online, PRINT the
permit and protect it (laminate, or enclose the permit in a zip-lock, etc.) from water damage.
Permits cost $7 ($5 permit plus $2 agent fee).
Registered motorboat owners do not need to buy a permit: the fee is automatically added to the
cost of registration. Current registration decals are proof of payment into the Aquatic Invasive
Species Permit program.
Aquatic Invasive Species permits expire on December 31 of the year indicated on the permit.
Background -How the Law Came About
Background information
How the new laws came about during the 2009 Legislative session. Click here for a complete list of infested lakes, nationwide.
Idaho's Aquatic Invasive Species Efforts Oregon's AISP program is modeled after Idaho's Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program. See what Idaho is doing, and what Oregon hopes to mirror in this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4EVAy8adMk
More information about Idaho's Invasive Species Fund can be found at:
http://www.idahoag.us/Categories/Environment/InvasiveSpeciesCouncil/indexInvSpCouncil.php
HB 2583 -The "Clean Launch" Law
HB 2583 -ORS. 830.560 This law prohibits launching a boat if there are any visible aquatic
species on the hull, motor, trailer or related equipment, or any
invasive species inside the boat. The goal of the law is to prevent
aquatic invasive plants, shellfish or other organisms from being
released into un-infested waters. This law focuses on the launch,
not the transport or retrieval of a boat.
All of us need to take responsiblity in keeping our waterways
clean from aquatic invasive species that can clog waterways
and damage fisheries.
Boaters will need to incorporate a few "housekeeping" protocols into their outdoor planning. This way
the boat operator can find a suitable location after a day of boating to clean his or her boat. Learn to
"Clean, Drain and Dry." Suitable locations are:
self-serve carwashes or permeable surfaces
(lawn, gravel driveway, etc.) away from storm
drains, ditches or creeks. A good garden hose, soapy water and a brush
or sponge is all you need. Also, be sure to:
drain interior compartments (live well or bilge
area), leave all hatches open and let the boat
dry in the sun -if possible. Don't forget to clean mud off anchor ropes, waders, crab rings, fishing gear and other
equipment.
Enforcement
This is a Class B infraction with a maximum fine of $287. The objective is not to issue
citations but to educate and ensure compliance with the new law. Page updated: March 30, 2010
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