BEND, Ore. – A new fee for paddlecraft in Oregon is facing significant opposition, prompting a campaign to repeal the measure before it takes full effect. The state legislature recently approved, and the governor signed into law, House Bill 2982, which requires operators of all boats under 10 feet in length – including canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards – to purchase and carry a waterway access permit costing per year.
The backlash has spurred the formation of Let Us Paddle, a political action committee (PAC) dedicated to overturning the new law. Organizers argue the fee is excessive, particularly for recreational users of inexpensive paddlecraft.
“You can buy a lifetime kayak for usually on spring sale. Now you have to pay a access permit to use it. We think that’s excessive,” said Benjamin Roche, co-chief sponsor of Let Us Paddle. “A lot of people are buying the stand-up paddleboards, the inflatable types and, again, water access permit per year that you have to have or you face a fine.”
The PAC is currently collecting signatures from registered voters in an effort to place a measure on the November ballot that would repeal the waterway access permit program. Approximately signatures have been gathered so far, with organizers aiming to collect around by to qualify for the ballot.
Petition circulator Wendy Mogstad highlighted the change in regulations as a key grievance. “My husband and I have a powerboat. We pay all the license and access fees on that powerboat. We also have two kayaks on top of that powerboat and those kayaks were under 10 feet for a reason — because we didn’t need a permit for those kayaks under 10 feet. And then they changed the rules on us,” she explained. “So now those two kayaks that are on our boat at the coast and three of them that we have at home — all of them are required to have permits on them, and that adds up really quick.”
The impetus for the new fee stems from concerns about aquatic invasive species and the need to maintain waterway access. The Oregon Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) jointly administer the program. Funds generated from the permits are allocated to waterway access improvements, such as boat ramps and restrooms, and to aquatic invasive species prevention efforts.
Specifically, of each permit goes towards creating new access points for paddle sports, with examples cited as Miller’s Landing in Bend and Maupin City Park on the Deschutes River. The remaining is dedicated to preventing the spread of invasive species and responding to infestations.
The threat of invasive species, particularly zebra and golden mussels, is a significant concern for Oregon officials. Inspections are conducted on all boats crossing state lines, and contaminated vessels undergo hot water pressure washing to eliminate the invasive organisms. However, Let Us Paddle argues that paddlecraft pose a minimal risk.
“The zebra mussel and the golden mussel are the two they are mostly concerned about. Those larvae need to be wet. They need to adhere to the hull or be in a live well or a wet bilge of a boat,” Roche said. “Paddlecraft like an inflatable paddleboards do not have a live well or a bilge. They are usually deflated and wiped down and put in a backpack. And small kayaks like the kind you find at your local hardware store are typically inverted, dumped out and put on the roof of a car, so they are not transporting the water that would be a vector for a zebra mussel or other invasive species.”
Let Us Paddle frames the issue as one of “taxation without representation” and an infringement on Oregonians’ access to public waterways. The PAC asserts that the fee disproportionately affects recreational users and fails to address the actual risk posed by paddlecraft in spreading invasive species.
“The reaction has been great,” Roche said. “Most everybody that swings by is eager to sign. A few detractors. Notice some people who think kayakers and paddleboarders should pay their fair share, like boats and registration fees, and we get that. We just don’t feel that a small paddlecraft is a vector of invasive species.”
As of , the waterway access permit for boats under 10 feet remains in effect unless and until This proves repealed by voters. The ODFW Electronic Licensing System is the primary avenue for purchasing the permits.
The debate highlights a broader tension between the need to fund conservation efforts and the desire to maintain affordable access to outdoor recreation. The outcome of the November ballot measure will likely set a precedent for how Oregon balances these competing interests in the future.
