Local Leads Failing Effort to Repeal Oregon's New Paddle Permit Law
A grassroots campaign led by Albany resident and former Linn County GOP Chair...
Albany resident and former Linn County GOP Chair Ben Roche, the chief petitioner for the Let Us Paddle initiative, is asking Oregonians to repeal the state’s expanded Waterway Access Permit requirement.
The group is still collecting signatures to place a repeal measure on the November 2026 ballot, arguing that the new law creates unnecessary costs and restrictions for people using non-motorized watercraft such as paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and rafts.
Time is running out. And things are looking grim. The group needs 117,173 valid signatures by July 2 to get their repeal measure on the November ballot. As of June 23rd, the campaign has collected 35,063 signatures.
Petition sheets must be submitted to the Oregon Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Beginning this year, anyone launching a paddleboard, kayak, canoe, raft, or other non-motorized boat on Oregon waterways is required to have a Waterway Access Permit. The permit costs $6 for seven days or $20 annually. Failing to carry proof of a valid permit can result in a citation of $115.
The new rules apply to our local waterways, including the Willamette River and local lakes. While Benton County has informed residents about the new permit requirement, the county has not publicly announced any targeted enforcement effort or reported citation numbers related to the new law.
State officials and supporters say the change helps to create a more consistent funding source for aquatic invasive species prevention and improvements to non-motorized boating access across Oregon.
According to non-supporters like Let Us Paddle, the campaign is built around three primary principles.
The first is freedom of movement, which organizers describe as the right to travel and recreate on Oregon’s public waterways without paying for what they view as a constitutional liberty.
“No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges or immunities which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.”
The second is the preservation of tradition and individual liberties. Organizers believe increasing regulation of low-risk recreational activities represents a gradual erosion of personal freedoms.
Finally, the campaign advocates for fair and targeted regulation. Rather than charging every paddler, the state should focus enforcement on activities that present the greatest risk of spreading aquatic invasive species.
Saying the repeal effort is now in a race against the clock would be optimistic at best. Campaign leaders acknowledged that “the petition effort is unlikely to reach the required threshold before the deadline.”
Individuals who wish to support the ballot measure by signing can download and print the official petition at https://www.letuspaddle.com/print-mail-signature.
Have you been stopped and asked for a permit or ticketed? Let us know. editor@corvallisnow.com
This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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