Oregon outlaws jet boats with engines above 15 horsepower on Upper Rogue River

The Oregon State Marine Board outlawed fast-moving jet boats on the Upper Rogue River after a long and contentious battle between anglers, environmental groups and commercial jet boat drivers.

The decision, made at a meeting Jan. 23, limits motorboats to an engine of 15 horsepower or lower on the popular upper river above Dodge Bridge County Park and Rogue River tributaries, between Fishers Ferry County Park and William L. Jess Dam at Lost Creek Reservoir.

The move effectively bans charter jet boat trips upstream of Table Rock Road, which has been a source of controversy for years.

Rogue Jet Boat Adventures, which has operated tours in the area, told the Rogue Valley Times they are “concerned about the decisions limiting access to a section of the river that provides invaluable opportunities for school groups, veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities — people who otherwise may not have the chance to experience this area of natural beauty and educational significance,” owner Taylor Grimes told the newspaper.

Grimes can still operate jet boat tours at lower segments of the river.

Environmental groups and anglers who said the jet boats degraded protection, water quality and safety celebrated the decision.

“Rogue Riverkeeper believes this rule-making highlights the importance of protecting water quality and aquatic habitat and building policy resilience in the face of climate change as our environment faces changes in use as well as the impacts that climate change itself will bring,” the group wrote.

Oregon State Marine Board approves grants for boating facilities

At the same meeting, the OSMB approved a series of grants to fund boating access at various locations including:

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pioneer Park West on the Klamath River. This project involves installing an accessible single-stall vault toilet, engineering services and sidewalks as part of a renovation project for improved river access. $180,000 in boating facility grant funds and $60,000 in waterway access grant funds to match $901,843 of applicant cash and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $1,141,843.
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Moonshine Falls on the Klamath River. Access road improvements to this new river access site will serve as a put-in location for the Big Bend run. The board approved $40,000 in waterway access grant funds to match $2,101,807 of applicant cash and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $2,141,807.
• Salmon Harbor West Basin boarding dock replacement on the Umpqua River. This project will replace the timber boarding docks with aluminum, which have an anticipated useful life of 25 years depending on use, weather conditions and maintenance. The board approved $270,000 in boating facility grant funds to match $90,000 of applicant cash, labor, equipment, materials, administration and pre-agreement match, for a total project cost of $360,000.
• U.S. Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest, Sutton Boat Ramp and boarding dock replacement. Due to permitting delays, the USFS requested a grant extension to June 30, 2027. The board conditionally approved, subject to legislative approval of the agency’s 2025-27 budget, $449,496.43 from the 2025-27 boating facility grant funding to match $149,832.14 of applicant cash and administrative match, for a total project cost of $599,328.57.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.