OAR 736-040-0025: Public Use of Scenic Waterways

(1) These rules apply to all scenic waterways unless more specific rules have been adopted for a particular scenic waterway. All persons using scenic waterways for recreation shall comply with the provisions of the Act and with the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission under the Act: (a) Private Property: Nothing in the Act or in these rules and regulations affords to any person any right to trespass upon the property of another or in any way alters the rights of private landholders in regard to trespass. The Commission admonishes all persons to respect the rights and sensibilities of those who make their homes and livelihoods within the scenic waterways; (b) Litter and Pollution: Refuse, scrap, trash and garbage which is not placed in receptacles provided for that purpose at maintained recreation sites shall not be buried or abandoned, but shall be taken out of the scenic waterways for proper disposal. All persons shall avoid pollution of the waters, lands and air within scenic waterways in any manner whatsoever; (c) Fires: Fires shall be made only in compliance with state law and only when and where there is no possibility of their causing damage. Conditions of wind and weather, proximity of vegetation or flammable materials and other factors as prudence dictates shall be most carefully considered. No open fire shall be made unless a shovel, axe and bucket of water are nearby. No open fire shall be left unattended and all fires shall be completely extinguished with water after use. Permissible fires shall be of the smallest practicable size; (d) Tree Cutting: Living or standing trees or plants shall not be cut for burning or for any other purpose by persons using the scenic waterways for recreation; (e) Collecting Souvenirs and Relics: Except as provided by law, antiquities, relics, artifacts, fossils and souvenirs shall not be removed from the site of their discovery or otherwise harmed. Archeological sites and fossil beds shall not be disturbed without proper authority under law; (f) Livestock: Persons using the scenic waterways for recreation shall not harass or in any way interfere with livestock or domestic animals, whether on private or public land, or damage fences lawfully placed on such lands for their management. (2) Natural springs shall not be damaged or in any way rendered unusable by persons or animals. (3) The Commission asks all persons to leave in passing no mark upon the land that might diminish its value to another, for the unspoiled beauty of these waterways, of value to the human spirit, is the common heritage of all.