History

The Willamette River has been a long time favorite location for boaters to enjoy time with their families and friends. Traditionally, non-motorized and motorized watercraft of all types were able to coexist.

In the 2005, when the average boat weight was less than 3500 lbs, river stewards began noticing excessive shoreline damage and asked the Oregon State Marine Board to consider making rules that would establish some parameters for boating in the Newberg Pool that would make this stretch of the sustainable for all users long-term. In 2008, Governor Kulongoski and the Natural Resources Committee determined wakes were causing damage to the shoreline and the Wake Enhancing Device ban was put in place.

Unfortunately, the ban was unenforceable and the damage continued. Over the next 10 years, boat technology changed leading to greater capability to add ballast and the ability to increase the size wake they produced. As the ecological impacts became more apparent, the WGA began working with the Oregon State Marine Board and legislators to find a solution. In 2019, lawmakers pass HB 2351 and HB 2352 in hopes of providing protection to the Newberg Pool.

Learn more through watching these videos:

  • Preserving the Newberg Pool, watch here

  • The Willamette Wake Boat Problem, watch here

  • The Problem with Wake Boats, watch here