Oregon’s expanded Waterway Access Permit requirement is now in effect for all nonmotorized boats, including kayaks, paddleboards, rafts, canoes and inflatable versions regardless of length. State officials say the fees help fund waterway access and aquatic invasive species prevention, while opponents argue the law places an unfair burden on low-risk paddlers.

A sweeping new OPB documentary, First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath, follows Indigenous teens on a 310-mile river journey only made possible after the Klamath’s major dams came down. Blending adventure filmmaking with powerful cultural storytelling, the film captures a historic moment on a river reborn.