A Summer of Change
For decades, Oswego Lake was accessible only to homeowners and easement holders with ties to the Lake Oswego Corporation. That changed earlier this year when a Clackamas County Circuit Court ruling required the city to provide public access to the lake through Millennium Plaza Park.
Now, as the first summer of public access winds down, paddlers and kayakers are reflecting on their experiences, while lakefront residents wrestle with safety concerns and a new sense of crowded waters.
Navigating the Lake
The journey for nonmotorized craft begins at Millennium Plaza Park. Visitors haul their gear across State Street, pass through a check-in with a city-hired park ranger, and lower into the water from concrete platforms. Most stick to Lakewood Bay or Half Moon Bay, but determined paddlers push farther east before eventually reaching the lake’s wide central section — where boating activity intensifies.
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“It can take nearly an hour just to reach the center,” said lakefront resident Jay Hamacheck. “Once you get to the main lake, you have to be a pretty dedicated paddler, because the waves are pretty bad.”
Some visitors linger near the bays, while others drift into the middle to sunbathe — a practice that alarms residents, who say boaters can’t always see them.
A Shift in Ownership and Oversight
Lakefront residents and easement holders, who have long enjoyed exclusive access, are adjusting to what they call the “new normal.” While no major accidents have been reported this summer, many worry it’s only a matter of time.
“The court decision transformed the lake from a private lake to a public lake, but it did so without providing the corresponding authority for public safety and oversight,” said Lake Corporation board member Grant Hanson.
The Lake Corporation still maintains its rules, requiring paddlers to stay between the shoreline and the buoy line. But those rules only apply to corporation members. Patrol staff can advise the general public but have no power to enforce.
“Whether everyone agrees the rules should exist or not, it’s understandable that this creates confusion and frustration,” said Lake Corporation Manager Jeff Ward.
Safety History and Resident Concerns
Residents point to the lake’s safety record to argue that strict oversight has worked. The last major accident dates back to the 1960s, when a boater fatally struck a swimmer. In the years since, Lake Corporation rules have required boaters to take additional tests beyond state mandates, and violators can lose privileges under a point system.
“I think safety-wise, someone is going to get hurt if they are in the main lake and not following Lake Corp rules,” said resident Judy Westwood.
Enforcement Challenges
The patchwork of jurisdiction has added to the tension. The city of Lake Oswego manages the public entrance at Millennium Plaza Park, but once paddlers launch, they are on state-owned waters patrolled by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Staffing is a challenge: the sheriff’s office reduced its marine patrol from three to two employees, who must cover all county waterways, including the busy Willamette and Clackamas rivers. Deputies responded to a tubing accident at Oswego Lake this summer, but otherwise patrol presence has been rare.
“The presence and time to spend on the lake is almost nonexistent due to the number of waterways we’re responsible for,” said Sgt. Nathan Thompson.
The Oregon State Marine Board is currently evaluating whether new rules are needed, but no emergency changes are expected soon.
Differing Perspectives
While lakefront residents argue that Oswego Lake is uniquely dense with homes — nearly 675 waterfront residences and another 3,300 with easement access — law enforcement officials downplay the risks.
“Why they don’t want stand-up paddle boards in the middle of the lake, I get it,” Thompson said. “But a quarter of a mile away on the Willamette we have narrower waters and all kinds of groups using it without incidents.”
Lake Corporation leaders disagree. “There is no body of water in Oregon with this kind of density,” said President Justin Harnish. “We told the marine board we’re a special case, but that didn’t go very far.”
Looking Ahead
As the first season of public access closes, questions remain about whether new safety rules or enforcement mechanisms will be implemented. For now, residents and visitors alike are navigating an evolving balance between recreation and responsibility.
At the heart of the debate is whether Oswego Lake’s new era of openness can coexist with the long-standing culture of safety and exclusivity — or whether change will bring consequences that no one wants to see.
