Who owns the waterways?”
is being asked with increasing frequency. Below are answers to some of the frequently asked complex and perplexing questions about waterway ownership. If you have further questions about this information or want additional information about state ownership of Oregon’s waterways, please contact us.
Most of the time, those who ply the nation’s navigable waterways don’t think about who has a right to be on the water and who doesn’t. Over the past several weeks, I have been hearing some rather disturbing dialogue among mariners, government officials and others who are raising questions about who should have access to our waterways and who should not. Frankly, the suggestion that one group is entitled to use our waterways over another group is particularly troubling to me. Workboat.com even conducted a poll on its website asking whether “duck boats and similar types of passenger vessels should be prohibited from operating in busy ports and waterways.” From time to time, such discussions crop up after a marine incident when the actions of vessel operators are called into question. This is understandable in these reactionary times that prompt knee-jerk reactions. Many times, those making such comments are simply not aware of the facts. But the biggest problem with this is that many in
