If your ride is ten feet or longer…you gotta have “papers”
Manually powered boats (paddle and oar) 10 feet long and longer are required to purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention (AIS) permit and carry it when operating the watercraft. Non-resident paddlecraft operators are also required to purchase a permit and carry it when boating in Oregon waters.
State, county, and local law enforcement officials issued 1,281 warnings and 569 citations related to AIS violations. Of the 7,441 watercraft inspected in 2013, 279 were contaminated with aquatic invaders, 228 with aquatic vegetation and 17 watercraft were contaminated with either quagga or zebra mussels originating from Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, and Utah.
The Marine Board sells both an annual and two-year Tyvek tags for paddlecraft and can be purchased through the Marine Board’s office in Salem or online through the Marine Board’s new storefront. Permits expire on December 31 annually or every two years depending on which permit is purchased. Out-of-state permits for non-motorized boats are also $5.
The AIS permit is $5 for a one year and $10 for two years when purchased online. Funds are dedicated and used only for the aquatic invasive species prevention program. Annual permits for paddlers can also be purchased from any ODFW license agents for $7. Oregon’s registered motorboat owners already contribute to the AIS program through a $5 surcharge on their boat registration fee. Out-of-state permits for motor boats are $20.
A complete report is available for download at http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Clean/docs/AISPP_Annual_Report.pdf