Governor signs boating safety bill into law.

Byline: David Steves The Register-Guard

SALEM - The death of a former University of Oregon law school dean in a boating accident led to a bill signed into law Friday to ensure that river guides follow new safety standards.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed into law Senate Bill 579 while the family of late UO law Dean Chapin Clark looked on.

Clark, who taught law for years, both before and after his stint as dean, was an expert at the legal issues relating to water.

Kulongoski, himself an attorney and a former Oregon Supreme Court justice, said that thanks to the efforts of Clark's family to heighten awareness of whitewater safety, Clark's legacy as an educator lived on.

"In many ways, it is a continuation of Chapin's life," Kulongoski said as he prepared to sign the bill into law.

"In other words, that he is still teaching."

Clark was 71 and an experienced river rafter when he took part in a guided fishing trip down the Rogue River in October 2002.

In a canyon-walled stretch of roiling water known as Coffee Pot rapids, Clark's boat ran into trouble. The swift current pushed the drift boat sideways against a rock, tossing out Clark, a second passenger and the guide.

Clark, who was wearing a life vest, was pinned under the boat.

According to the later deposition of the guide in Clark's boat, the guide was not wearing a personal flotation device, daughter Julia Clark said.

In addition, the boat was not equipped with some safety equipment, such as a throw bag - a buoyant bag containing a length of rope that can be tossed to someone during a rescue.

Also, the guide had said he had no practice skills in group rescue and had not devised a rescue plan for such accidents.

Clark's daughter said the lack of equipment and rescue skills meant her father had to spend additional time in the cold, churning waters waiting for a second boat to arrive. Clark died at the scene.

Senate Bill 579 puts into law provisions to address such circumstances.

It requires for guided trips that go through whitewater rapids of Class III or higher:

Training for guides in topics such as boat rigging, the scouting of rapids, and river rescue techniques.

That all guides and their passengers wear personal flotation devices.

Rescue throw bags to be kept in each boat.

Julia Clark spearheaded the lobbying effort, with help from a professional lobbyist and longtime family friend, Mari Anne Gest.

The two were joined at the bill signing by Clark's daughter, Charday Rowell, brother Jef Clark, and mother, Dorothy Clark, all of Eugene.

Phil Donovan of the Oregon Guides and Outfitters Association supported the final version of the bill.

That was key to its passage to Kulongoski's desk.

"What we have in this legislation really reflects what our guides are already doing," he said. "Now, we'll make sure every guide is doing it, whether they're a member of Oregon Guides and Outfitters or not."

In a separate event, Julia Clark and Eugene attorney Don Corson announced the formation of the new Chapin Clark Whitewater Accreditation program.

It will be a joint initiative between the Chapin Clark Foundation and Rescue 3 International, which promotes itself as the world's largest water rescue standard development and training organization.

The program will be available to give commercial river guiding operations a risk management assessment, and to award its seal of approval to those firms that meet safety and training standards.

Julia Clark, the foundation's president, said the day's twin efforts represented a means of providing safety for whitewater adventurers, and of honoring her dad.

"I think my father would be really pleased," she said.

ON THE WEB

For information on the Chapin Clark Whitewater Accreditation program: www.whitewatersafety.org