Can the Willamette River handle this much use? | Oregon Field Guide

A growing number of people want to live and recreate on the Willamette River, and it's getting crowded. While the population in the Portland metro area has grown, the river is still the same size. To keep the peace among floating homeowners, swimmers, paddlers and motorized boaters, the state is adding new rules for who can do what where.
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[@johnprentice1527]

Common sense should prevail. Compare the number of people who recreate by swimming, canoeing, dragon boat paddling, etc. versus those who wake-surf. The numbers aren't remotely close; wake-surfers have to take a back seat. Maybe designate couple of hours for the surfers each day, and the remainder of the time for everyone else. Not really a hard call.

[@Phrancis5]

I like how the boater is worried about too many boats close together, but imagine how a paddleboarder feels facing down a speeding boat, with music blaring and usually a lot of drinking... A teen showing off to his friends and recklessly driving his dad's powerboat ran over and almost killed an elderly guy in my kayaking group a few yrs ago near Elk rock. It just echoes the old left/right argument about my personal freedoms vs public safety and greater societal good.

[@FeelItRising]

can't stand loud motor water sports

[@pdxraves]

Everybody should just stop doing what they are doing since you don’t like something. Annoying type of mentality that makes too many laws in this city. What you really shouldn’t like is the amount of needles that litter the water Fronts. People always Complaining about something. Now we need to address the river people. If I swim in the willamette will it kill me? These people are absoluteJoke and are the type of people that continuously make the locals of the city want to move. Thx transplants!

[@therosses5]

But blood curdling screams by women being abused in the city isn't a problem.

[@missamae34]

@@therosses5 what the h are you talking about?

[@therosses5]

@@missamae34 if you knew Portland, you'd know. Ever hear of Google?

[@sh9downonme71]

Your Yahoo fun does not give you the right to destroy nature or the environment

[@yuiopoli9601]

What is it destroying?

[@reidzielinski]

No mention of springer fishing…interesting.

[@deitrickorullian505]

Trolling 1-3mph makes no impact on the water surface

[@weebeevillaging587]

AWS has their own private lake in Washington, what’s up with the willlamette.

[@scienceis7630]

This is not a summertime playground. It's a cesspool.

[@hotttt28]

Bank Erosion ! No Wakeboarding!

[@r8chlletters]

Any municipality can determine which water sports have the least impact on others or the environment and outlaw those that are a problem. Not difficult at all! Surfers can always go to the ocean that’s where surfing happens 😂

[@markrosstomlin]

That’s one of the most polluted stretches of river in the USA. It’s still a superfund site, with the waste from historical toxic industries still leaching into the river at a dangerous rate, and many spots are still entirely closed off to the public due to this toxicity.

[@ClayTJohnson]

dont tell the transplants that. its our only way to get rid of them

[@mycarpultunnel]

The great divide 😅

[@missamae34]

“ pretty soon I won’t be able to rev up my engines and create huge waves to jump over for my kids to learn” BOO FREAKING HOOOOOOO

[@hotttt28]

Bank Erosion !

[@cold02rex]

That river is full of duty so get a mouthful while you use it. Yuck!!!!

[@jackehli621]

Boneless Brown Trout & Bassturds. DELISH!!!

[@TheEvilPorkchop03]

Complainers😂😂portlands full of em and it never matter about what….they’re always there.i wouldn’t want to swim in our nasty ass river anyways. got to a lake.

[@brianjones6500]

Or we could all stay home and watch our screens. Stay off the water stay safer. Bring back the sewage lol *joking . Just don't look up at the hot air balloons about to drop down on these wake surfers. Ban the Wilsonville hot air balloons!

[@danielginther4879]

Consider an odd/even schedule for usage of the river. Remember boat owners pay fees in order to use their watercraft, others, I don’t know.

[@brookingsbeachcomber]

You don't want to know what the homeless are doing in that river, so many needles to avoid.

[@stonyfieldmotorsports]

I'd be willing to bet there's an equal or greater number of non homeless people throwing waste in there.

[@yuiopoli9601]

Laws that put people in prison for years make certain people around the country will through their needles anywhere to avoid years of prison. Portland has different laws, but they don't offer enough sharp boxes. People may not like that people user dogs, or throw away their needles in horrible places but I know they haven't found a solution and only seen to complain.

[@barbrahlivingston8971]

The people that fought for calm waters are just more KARENS!!!

[@nouseforaname5378]

Absolutely

[@stonyfieldmotorsports]

​@@nouseforaname5378 no they aren't. If I want to drift or do another extreme sport I do it in a place that is respectful to those who don't want to be a part of it. Hence driving recklessly on the highway isn't just dangerous for you. Same goes for waterways. There are no wake zones for a reason. Don't be selfish.

[@Phrancis5]

​@@stonyfieldmotorsports A teen showing off to his friends and recklessly driving his dad's powerboat ran over and almost killed an elderly guy in my kayaking group a few yrs ago near Elk rock. It just echoes the old left/right argument about my personal freedoms vs public safety and greater societal good.

[@ron9381]

What Portland needs to do is get rid of all the needles and feces that are being swept into the river from the homeless. and , jail the thief and the shoplifters. and as a bonus would be to solve more of the murders. Banning wake boats is like fighting for deck chairs on the titanic.

[@cold02rex]

It is an overflow sewage outlet for a dozen communities. And that's a typical Tuesday.

[@r8chlletters]

Seems like we could do all that and get rid of motorized water “sports”.

[@ron9381]

The Motorsports have been there for about 100 years on the river were motorized. Transportation has been the main stay since 1860 should have priority, when nothing is enforced, all problems have only been getting worse when the Democrats took over 45 years ago .@@r8chlletters

[@BushyHairedStranger]

The Willamette River should only be available to us Oregonians whose families arrived in 1840’s & of course all the First Nations Tribes.

[@waveydaveydoo]

nice save

[@uncledogg5156]

Going to the river and expecting not to get wet is ridiculous

[@adecarlo29411]

Too many rules and regulations, too many Karen's. Go to Hagg Lake.

[@missamae34]

I could be a Karen ...or an asshole (obnoxious boaters)..... i'd rather be a Karen

[@adecarlo29411]

@@missamae34 They're one in the same...

[@missamae34]

Respect the peace. Go roar your engines where people dont swim, kyak, or paddle board.@@adecarlo29411

[@MrColinManning]

Or keep the Rules, protect the wildlife and let the Bro's and Ho's go to Lake Havasu!

[@MrColinManning]

Jet Skis and wake board boats, along with suped up drag boats illegally disturb calm water stretches of the Willamette all summer long. They are loud and trashy. Definitely disturbing all forms of wildlife, including the humans gliding around in more reasonable paddle-craft.