The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) Board met Thursday May 17th in Portland, OR and moved ahead by adopting a temporary rule that will be in effect for up to 180 days. The temporary rule is to meet the agreement reached earlier between the Oregon State Marine Board and the ODA to turn over regulation of seaplanes on the lake to the ODA. The new rule takes effect immediately and will be administered by the ODA. The ODA will be now start the process of official rule making, which is to be accomplished within the 180 days.

The Aviation Board, first and foremost, is recognizing its role to further aviation in Oregon. Oregon’s seaplane rules require that the least restrictive solution consistent with safety be used when restricting seaplane access. “Outright seaplane prohibition will be reserved for only the most extreme situations of unusual and continuous congestion or the lack of physical suitability for seaplane operation. Normally, limits on areas of operation or time or seasonal restrictions will be adequate to avoid conflict.” Waldo lake is almost 10 square miles in size and the number of boat operations on the lake is also one of the least congested in the state for its size.

Abbreviated minutes of the meeting and the new rule can be viewed in its entirety on the CSPA website . It calls primarily for limited operation hours and practices, an invasive species check before heading to Waldo Lake and filing a flight report. The flight report can be filed by fax or on an interactive flight plan form that the agency is setting up on their website. The flight plan is, as it says in the new rule, for gathering a count on the real number of flights that take place to the lake. The CSPA has made every effort to represent the seaplane flying public as good citizens, who are respectful of the enjoyment of this special place by others who would not have seaplanes there at any cost. Cooperation with the new temporary rule will insure that we are given the most reasonable and consistent recognition as the public process for the final rule progresses.

When the ODA web link and phone number for filing flight reports is finalized we will report it on our Waldo Lake webpage, in the meantime the ODA fax number of (503) 373-1688 or their general email at [email protected] should be used.

Bear in mind that Waldo lake is over 5000 feet in elevation and on a hot summer day even a high performance plane is going to have its work cut out for it. We suggest visiting in the Spring, preferably before the road is open or later in the fall after the bugs are gone and the people who don't want us there are done for the summer. Plan a camping trip, hike or picnic lunch Remember this is not a place just to go there to put a notch on your gun. Have a reason to use your plane as transportation to the area.

Thanks again for all the support that made this possible.

Bill Wainwright
CSPA V P