Say NO to Jet Boats in the Upper Rogue!

From our partners at Upper Rogue Guardians, this 5-minute video includes interviews with people who have been impacted by jet boats in the Upper Rogue and provides explanations from local ecological experts on the potential and actual impacts of the increase of unregulated jet boats in this narrow and shallow section of the Rogue River in southern Oregon. People interested in commenting on this impact to the Rogue River should contact the OR Parks & Recreation Dept. (503-986-0707 or www.oregon.gov/oprd) and the OR Marine Board (503-378-8587 or www.oregon.gov/osmb).
Rogue Riverkeeper remains focused on jet boats in the Upper Rogue because of the impacts to water quality and aquatic habitats. For more information about this video, contact [e-mail].

[@scott6252]

Big mistake letting them get a foothold in the upper part.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

Others tried back in 2017 - each time they lose their permits they find a new way around it - just like they have yet again - operating out of our State Park even after their concessionaire's permit was cancelled and after more than 1,300 complaints were sent to State Parks?

[@scott6252]

If they could be limited to two or so days a week like they do on the Deschutes if nothing else.

[@ricksundberg5659]

Anything that can negatively affect king salmon numbers should be halted immediately or that fishery will face long term closures in the future.

[@jacttackle57]

Floating is the best keep the motors off the river as a fishing guide my clients prefer the experience of the drift boat and have a more enjoyable time

[@FXQC]

throling motor ar fine lol ...

[@fedorp4713]

We have small jet boats on tiny creeks that ruin fishing up in Canada... Creeks with water up to you knees that a 10 year old that throw rock across with jetboats racing up and down. You can hear the stereo on a jet boat 10 minutes away. They are incredibly annoying, period.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

We are concerned about the trend in that direction as well - but these jet boats are TOO LARGE - with 25 seats - and too frequent, thus dominating the river that was traditionally fishing and floating

[@LisaJames-nq7lr]

25 SEAT corporate jet boats 12 trips per day is too much! Nobody is watching- but I care! They started with 10 seat boats 4 times a day on weekends- now it’s every day! It’s too much- too big- too frequent!

[@VagaBumAdventures]

The tours are running already?!? I didn’t think they started yet! Thanks! I’ll book with Jerry’s today.

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

3 trips a day with 3 boats. 3x3=9. Every day? Last I checked they start in May and end Sept. 1st before spawning season happens… hmm every day? False statement. Let’s see January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December 8 out or 12 months with no tours. Sorry you have to share the river “every day”

[@drewmclemore7669]

Not a huge deal on regular nights. Friday nights and concert nights they make a ton of trips shuttling people down. Probably every 10 minutes a boat is flying by.

[@jewcyk8268]

If they’re worried about environmental impacts, start by ending all dredge mining on the creeks that lead into the rogue.

[@benblazek3305]

What if I bring my jet boats out to the rogue River, and now there are multiple commercial jet boat operators???

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

That's one of our questions - when is it too many trips and too large of boats? It already is - when they started, they said "due to the special nature of the Upper Rogue, they'd never use a jet boat over 16 passengers", but money seems to have made them lose that commitment and memory - now with 25 seats plus driver???

[@nhragold1922]

The issue is its public land. There should be no corporate business on public lands. At the same time it's people's right to use their land. I'm willing to bet these are the type of people are complaining about small time miners and recreation these people don't like.

[@robertgold2643]

Why is the ruination of another’s experience so celebrates by humans? That knife cuts both ways (3 always if you include nature) so compromise is in order. All engines can be made quieter. Restrictions on usage, no motor days for those who choose to float. Simple solutions, ought to have something on the table in oh, 10 years or so 🤦‍♂️

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

You're probably right, but we are trying to get people to pay attention and educate themselves - this company has been growing since beginning in 2017 with a 10-seat boat, then an 18 seat and now a 25 seat - and TODAY ALL THREE IN SUCCESSION ONE AFTER ANOTHER

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@LisaJames-mj4cn 🤣 maybe they can be spaced out evenly so they are in your front yard longer haha. They idle past your house too. Minor detail I’m sure you care to bring to others attention. Maybe we should talk about the countless acres of soil and land a certain construction company has destroyed or permanently altered for profit, or the river habit that has been permanently altered and changed so views of the river could be improved??

[@TheLifeOutdoorz]

That section has had jetboats on it for more years than the people in this video have lived in OR.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

NOT BIG CORPORATE 25 SEAT JET BOATS 12 X A DAY?????

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@LisaJames-mj4cn 9 max

[@edwardabrams4972]

Yes I know my grandparents live next to Zane Grey back in the day and my parents live close to the river too. But they should regulate and control the jet boats because it’s like everything else it’s getting out of hand and needs better supervision!

[@kurtengstrom6162]

Not above TouVelle State park. 66 years fishing the upper Rogue. Cut the BS

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@kurtengstrom6162 🤥😂

[@american7169]

Set a 5mph speed limit, that will take care of the problem😊

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

They haven't abided by no wake zones - so why would they comply? They installed two metal boat ramps in the kids swimming hole at the State Park - they don't care if it inhibits families - they're making $$

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

We wish they would abide by the NO WAKE Zone already in place - but they don't - and the Sherrif doesn't enforce

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@LisaJames-mj4cn where is there a no wake zone?

[@jasonpatnoude2836]

As a owner of a jet boat.. they create less wake than any other boat, they are more maneuverable at speed, and when you're just pushing water... pry cleaning sediment helping out the salmon beds.. now.. I agree.. should be x number of days with no jet boats.. ie.. m,t,w, no commercial jet boats... by having off days - you can help all people enjoy the river.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

I owned a jet boat for over 30 years - we drove it below Touvelle, not above? Not true that they create less wake - especially NOT A HUGE 25 SEAT JET BOAT?

[@kurtengstrom6162]

less wake than a drift boat, BS.

[@jamescomi5602]

I’m buying a jet boat. Coming your way.

[@DavidRobertson-pk4ld]

Jet boats are polluters of all waters, period. They should be banned from all river systems that bear salmonoids. (any fish actually) They’re loud, obnoxious forms of watercraft. Drift boats enhance the solitude and experience of experiencing the wilds and are beneficial to the health of the oarsman/women who operate them.

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

Anne are you revoking your community peace keeping award?

[@annebatzer7340]

Hello Nick, Your comment makes me stop and think. Thank you for that. I have two thoughts to share with you: First, we need quiet places in nature in order to stay in touch with our own stillness, which is the source of my peacemaking efforts. It's my experience that Oregon rivers have profound lessons to teach, if only we can hear them. If jet boats are not regulated we will get rid of places---in this noisy tumultuous world---where we can be quiet and tap into our wisdom. Second, working with Upper Rogue Guardians has been an example of peacemaking. We come from different socioeconomic levels, different ages and different political party affiliations. We have members from Shady Cove, Eagle Point, Sams Valley, Central Point, Jacksonville, the Applegate, Medford, Phoenix, Talent and Ashland. We disagree on many things, but we work together because we know that restoring the life-sustaining role the Rogue River has played in our valley for millenia is important. This work gives me hope: isn't this the way American democracy is supposed to work?

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

She's actually being a consummate peacekeeper?

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@annebatzer7340 why haven’t you invited jet boaters into the conversation. Ultimately, the rogue river and rivers in general is a special and sacred thing in my life. I come from a rafting background and I love rafting but I also love jet boating and being out on the river on a jet boat. I also enjoy fishing and having a jet boat allows for travel up river to fishing holes. How have you guys kept peace? Seems like a smear campaign to me. When (what time of the year) was the footage of the salmon spawning in the shallows taken? And where was that footage taken?

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

If living on the river gives you peace then so be it. Not all of us can be so blessed. However, it’s rather selfish to not share the river with others so they can find their peace as well.

[@Doomtroll]

hahaha bunch of Karens

[@DavidRobertson-pk4ld]

Jet boats pollute the air, water, and ears of all living things. They disrupt spawning fish from procreating future fish. There is absolutely no reason for them to be on this entire river.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

Troll seems an appropriate name for you

[@johngilbert1325]

Corporate jet boats? That's a bit much. Bank erosion and turbidity? C'mon that's what rivers do- they do flood every spring, correct? Some of the arguments are pure outrage-stoking. Jet boats are loud, annoying and probably unsafe. That's the fair and reasonable argument- but don't pull this "irreparable environmental damage" card- that's not really honest or realistic as a whole.

[@annebatzer7340]

Hello John, Thank you for watching our video and for commenting. I wish there were more studies on jet boats and environmental damage. Science is imperfect. But careful, peer-reviewed studies are one of very few tools we have for making predictions. There are studies on jet boats and their disruption of salmon habitat: a Snake River study and an Alaska study, as well as international studies. The Snake river study looks at how repeated jet boat trips on upper rivers disrupt salmon habitat---the same situation we have on the upper Rogue River. The local office of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued guidelines limiting the times of year jet boats should be allowed on the upper Rogue. Unfortunately, the tour boats company that operates out of TouVelle State Park ignores there guidelines and runs multiple tours whenever it wants to.

[@benblazek3305]

​@annebatzer7340 gonna have a hard time finding, or generating any scientific data on jet boat traffic causing more erosion of riparian areas, than spring flooding does. I would almost bet my life's worth that spring flooding is exponentially worse

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

@@benblazek3305 You are aware that the Rogue flow is controlled by the Corp of Engineers at Lost Creek Lake? There isn't flooding - hasn't been for over 60 years. This section of the Upper Rogue is more narrow, more shallow and more susceptible to impacts and damages than how large it is down at Grants Pass - that's what the studies showed at Snake River - the Upper Sections are more fragile and important habitat. CHECK OUT RESTRICTIONS IN OREGON FOR THE SAME REASONS: www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/Motorboat-Restrictions.aspx

[@benblazek3305]

@LisaJames-mj4cn does this dam hold back every single drop of spring rain. Or does this stretch have some special hocus pocus going on? I believe the dam "controls spring floods", but to say it eliminates it is outright foolish. Surely the water levels fluctuate from rain, which does still cause erosion. Maybe not at the rates catastrophic flooding caused prior to the dam. However, it will continue happening with or without the commercial boats present

[@georgekantstandu4501]

Ban all boats, and humans from fishing to increase the fish population so the bears have more to eat and then they will stop eating eco tourist in such great numbers

[@kurtengstrom6162]

🤣🤣😂😂

[@Siskiyous6]

freedom of navigation is a bedrock right, this attitude of yours is sad,

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

Really? Do you think there aren't any other restrictions on any other rivers even in Oregon? Or lakes like Fish Lake with NO Motors? They are all over the place - all for good reasons. Nobody was paying attention to this company as their boats and trips grew and grew until they now dominate and obstruct other non-motorized users?

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

Check out what is called REGULATIONS AND PROTECTIONS - IT'S NOT A RIGHT, ITS A PRIVELEDGE www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/Motorboat-Restrictions.aspx

[@nickfitzpatrick7808]

@@LisaJames-mj4cn motors are allowed on fish lake.

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

@@nickfitzpatrick7808 You are correct - just can't go over 10 MPH - that would be great

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

"Bedrock right?" This ain't the wild west anymore Siski - Take a look at the regulations in Oregon already. www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/Motorboat-Restrictions.aspx?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2voJDh7DXROT05MCD1wgTSz3lN_XLX0XX2ruVzlDhh1xsVteGeaW1prdM_aem_AS1l-jLLFbG-2ljgAMZ52KBCf_yngXhu7wC3ZviNnSG3tCT_gA49vF2gPyeYt7CWdU-RZPJk_NWmbq2FeQpFLSBQ

[@user-jb2ry7bz1j]

Jet boats should be used on the Rouge River all over it

[@ministryofadventure]

cry harder

[@jonnyg8103]

Its a public multi use river... commercial boats have every right to be there. So semi trucks and commercial vehicles shouldnt use our public highways? Thats your argument... the Rogue has flooded since the dam was built but guess you werent here in 1997... or any of the other years it reached flood stage or over. How about you actually read the study that was done on the Rogue about jet boats. Ask Hellgate for it i am sure they have a copy. The salmon dont spawn until the late September first of October... those jet boats stop at Labor day...

[@jonnyg8103]

This video is just a bunch of opinions and no facts.. not even qualified opinions. A bird vet? Maybe the fly fisherman should stop wading in the river stepping on salmon eggs in October and disturbing the bug life in the gravel.. how about the rich homeowners stop cutting trees and brush from the river bank to "improve their view" maybe the home owners should stop spraying roundup and other chemicals on their beautiful green grass that the runoff goes into the river... then fertilizing their lawn to grow helping all the moss grow in the river

[@VagaBumAdventures]

I love Jet Boating the Rouge! I go all the way up, every year! Woo hoo!!!! 🙌🏼

[@LisaJames-mj4cn]

From where to where? I've owned a jet boat for over 30 years - there are sections you can't - and this should be another section to protect.

[@VagaBumAdventures]

@@LisaJames-mj4cn “Should” is a word of arrogance, conceit and fear. It's the word used when a person insists he knows what's best for someone else. It's the word uttered when a person's pride matters more than his ability to relate to a fellow human being.