New Oregon law ups boating fee, requires all boats to get permit to fight invasive species
Courtesy of River Management Society
The cost of boating Oregon’s waterways will rise in 2026 in an effort to stop invasive mussels from taking over the state’s lakes and rivers. House Bill 2982 passed the Oregon Legislature and was signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on June 24. The bill increases the cost of invasive species boating permits for motorized and non-motorized boats by $3 per year. More strikingly, it expands the types of boats that need a permit. All small boats, including kayaks, packrafts, stand-up paddleboards - even two inner tubes tied together - will need a Waterway Access Permit beginning January 1, 2026 Previously, boats 10 feet and shorter were exempt.
Read more:
https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2025/07/07/oregon-law-boating-fees-permit/84465263007/
Making Waves In Boise
Courtesy of NRPA
By Bonnie Shelton
Boise, Idaho, is known as a wonderful location for active outdoor enthusiasts. The city serves as a gateway to millions of acres of forest land and hundreds of miles of waterways to play in. Thanks to the support of foundations, grassroots organizers and municipal leaders, river enthusiasts can hone their surfing or kayaking skills at a local spot in the heart of the city.
Boise’s first adjustable Wave Shaper can create different wave structures at various river flows, providing myriad recreational opportunities while meeting mandatory irrigation requirements. This allows both kayakers and surfers to hit the water just minutes from home. Popularity increased as more and more people had easy access to the sport of surfing and a local spot to hone whitewater kayaking skills.
Read more:
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2025/index.php#/p/38
River Town Review Toolkit
Courtesy of American Trails
By National Park Service - DC RTCA
A River Town Review is an in-house and straightforward assessment of a community's existing and potential outdoor recreation opportunities, connections, resources, advocates, visitor experience, and partnership possibilities. It engages the public to generate support and ideas and is designed to help a community better connect to the river and neighboring towns, embrace and enhance its outdoor recreation resources, and grow the local tourism economy.
The River Town Review involves a five-step, volunteer-based process using a “Fresh Set of Eyes" approach to help enhance tourism and outdoor recreation in your community.
Read more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/river-town-review-toolkit
NRPA Champions Make Their Voices Heard on Capitol Hill
Courtesy of NRPA
By Christian Miller
NRPA members on the Hill championed several spending priorities and programs that support parks and recreation in communities throughout the country. These priorities include the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and its state assistance program. LWCF state assistance funding has paid for the construction or improvement of recreation spaces in thousands of communities throughout the nation.
Members also promoted funding the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Youth Mentoring Program. This program provides vital funding for establishing programs supporting at-risk youth that many park and recreation departments have utilized to make a difference in their communities.
Finally, NRPA supporters called attention to nutrition assistance programs. These programs help provide after-school and summer meals to children at park and recreation sites. In 2023 and 2024, park and recreation departments provided meals for more than 17 million children. These programs are just some of the priorities that NRPA supporters educated legislators about.
Read more:
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2025/index.php#/p/20
Trail Map For Rural Development in America
Courtesy of American Trails
By Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR)
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable released the Trail Map for Rural Development in America, a resource designed to guide federal, state, local, Tribal, and philanthropic leaders in harnessing the power of outdoor recreation to strengthen rural economies, improve community resilience, and enhance quality of life.
Read more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/trail-map-for-rural-development-in-america
Are your Organization and Community Prepared?
Courtesy of ActivEnviro
The ActivEnviro Operation Resiliency Response (ORR) Team continues to meet regularly. Since the publication of the ORR manual on Amazon, the team has focused on trying to get the word out through trainings and workshops for parks and recreation professionals and related fields. In addition, the team has discussed trying to work more with the world of municipal managers and professional emergency management realms. There has also been an added a focus on Climate Adaptation to the trainings. More trainings and webinars are coming. If you know of an organization or association that would benefit from these ORR trainings or information, please email [email protected].
Read more:
https://www.activenviro.org/orr
