Organization seeks to repeal Oregon waterway access permit changes

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Starting in 2026, a new law in Oregon requires all non-motorized boats, regardless of size, to buy and carry a waterway access permit. That includes paddleboards and kayaks.

But there has been some push back from one organization.

Ben Roche is part of Let Us Paddle. The organization aims to repeal the updates to the waterway access permit.

“It’s Oregonians constitutional right to free access to our waterways. And human powered watercrafts are the best way to do that, and the least environmentally impactful,” said Roche.

According to the Oregon State Marine Board, permit fees range from $6 to $35.

If you’re caught without a permit, there’s a $115 fine.

The state agency says the funding goes directly to two programs.

One supports aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection stations and the other improves access points to the water that specifically serve paddlers.

“There is a need for inspection and we support that. What we don’t support is charging recreational paddleboarders for cleaning of motorboats that enter our state,” said Roche.

Roche adds, the state is only funding a few dozen access points.

Let Us Paddle has collected at least 20,000 signatures, and they want about 130,000 more by July 2.

They need at least 120,000 verified signatures to put the repeal before voters on the November ballot.

But even if they don’t meet the requirement, Roche says he’ll keep pushing for change.

“I think it’s really a poorly crafted bill that collects a small drop in the bucket of revenue but impacts thousands of recreational kayakers across the state,” said Roche.

FOX 12 reached out to the Oregon State Marine Board to ask more questions, but have not yet to heard back.