OAR 250-020-0031: Boat Operations on Lake Oswego in Clackamas County

(1) A person must not moor a boat more than 20 feet from shore and leave it unoccupied, except when secured to a dock. (2) A person must not operate a boat in excess of: (a) 6 MPH within 100 feet of the shore, a swimmer, a canoe, or within areas marked by buoys; (b) 6 MPH through channels, canals, and bridges; (c) 8 MPH in unrestricted areas during the time period ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise; (d) 40 MPH in unrestricted areas during the time period ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. (3) A person must not operate a paddleboard more than 100 feet from shore or under any bridge. (4) A person must not moor a boat or raft to any navigation buoy or marker. (5) A person operating a boat while picking up or standing by a person in the water must completely stop the boat’s motor. (6) A person operating a boat towing a water skier must: (a) Operate the boat so that the boat and skier in tow remain 100 feet or more from shore, except when performing a safe take-off or landing. A safe take-off is considered “safe” only when it is accomplished without risk to any swimmers or craft. A safe landing is considered “safe” on Lake Oswego when it is accomplished without risk to any swimmers or craft, the boat remains 100 feet or more from shore, and the skier remains in the area of water bounded by the extended property lines of the property from which the skier is skiing. The red buoys placed at intervals around the lake shall be deemed to mark a distance of 100 feet from shore; (b) When performing a safe take-off, operate the boat as straight as practicable from shore; (c) Proceed in a counter clockwise pattern, which is west on the north side of the lake, and east on the south of the lake; (d) When undertaking a safe take-off or landing, keep as far distant as possible from adjoining docks, floats, and the shoreline; (e) If a skier falls when more than 50 feet from shore or a float, return at once to the downed skier giving due regard to the safety of any other skiers it may be towing. (7) A person must not operate a boat behind anyone being towed closer than 300 feet nor cross the towing boat's bow less than 200 feet nor alongside the towed person(s) closer than 100 feet. (8) A person must not operate a motorboat for the purposes of towed watersports in the following locations: (a) Under any bridge; (b) South of the buoy at the entrance to, and within, Blue Heron Bay, except that families living on the Bay may tow surfboards or similar equipment at low speeds; (c) West of the buoy at the entrance to, and within West Bay, except that families living on the Bay may tow surfboards or similar equipment at low speeds; (d) On the inlet canal; (e) On the canal leading from Main Lake to Lakewood Bay; (f) At the east end of the Main Lake between the buoy and the swim resort; (g) On Kelok Bay (between Alder and Maple Circles) southwest of buoy at mouth of bay; (h) West of the buoy at the west end of Lakewood Bay.