Boater Education Program



	In 1996 the SMBRP established the Boater Education Program with the goal of reducing pollution from recreational boating activities in local small craft harbors and coastal areas. Starting with a $21,000 Clean Vessel Act grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the Boater Education Program has since secured and leveraged more than $500,000 in support of local clean boating programs and projects. Through local initiatives and partnerships the Boater Education Program has developed a unique approach to marina and boating pollution issues. The mission of today's Boater Education Program has emerged out of a growing recognition that preserving and protecting local waters is integral to watercraft use and ownership in Southern California. Home to 15 harbors, approximately 90 marinas, and more than 270,000 boats, the Southern California coastline is a valuable natural and recreational resource for all those who enjoy cruising, diving, fishing, and water-skiing with their boats. The programs and projects of the Boater Education Program encourage stewardship of these local navigable waterways through environmentally responsible operation and maintenance of recreational watercraft. The Boater Education Program centers around four strategies: (1) developing pollution prevention services, (2) creating networking opportunities, (3) providing technical assistance, and (4) direct outreach. The Boater Education Program brings to local boating communities the tools and resources needed to improve water quality in their favorite boating playgrounds. In May of 2001, the SMBRP received the California Environmental Protection Agency's Program Excellence Award for its Boater Education Program. The award acknowledged the SMBRP for its innovative efforts to reach local watercraft owners and recognized the Boater Education Program as an outstanding model of how local programs can communicate community-specific messages on pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. Today, the SMBRC's Boater Education Program is reaching more people than ever before. Through three major grant programs and with the help of local boaters, marinas, marine businesses, public agencies, and environmental organizations, the SMBRC continues to work towards the goal of reducing pollution from recreational boating activities in local waterways. Want to know more? Programs and Projects Learn more about the programs and projects of the SMBRC's Boater Education Program. Why is boating pollution a problem? Learn more about the water quality impacts of pollution from boat operation and maintenance. Making a Difference Learn more about what you can do to prevent marina and boating pollution. Learning Links Find links to other web resources on boat-generated pollution and clean boating. Boater Education Programs and Projects The programs and projects of the Boater Education Program address a wide range of pollution concerns, including oily bilge water, copper-contaminated sediments from anti-fouling hull paints, and sewage discharge. The SMBRC's boating programs and projects center around four core strategies: Education through direct outreach Provision of technical assistance Creation of networking opportunities Development of pollution prevention services DIRECT OUTREACH Bringing priority pollution prevention messages directly to boaters through peer-to-peer outreach, classroom education, and the creation and dissemination of literature. Boat Shows Approximately two-thirds of Southern California's boat owners attend these trade shows. Participating in local area boat shows therefore provides an opportunity to talk and interact with boat owners and enthusiasts directly. Dockwalkers Through this program, coordinated by the California Coastal Commission, boaters and other volunteers are trained to conduct face-to-face boater education about environmentally sound boating practices. Once trained, Dockwalkers go to marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows and events in order to conduct boater visits. During these visits, Dockwalkers distribute educational materials and discuss clean boating practices with boaters. Click here to volunteer or find more information on the Dockwalker Program. Marina and Yacht Club Presentations Through this program, interested marinas, yacht clubs, and other boating organizations can bring a professional speaker with a short environmental boating seminar to their members. This program is provided free of charge to interested boating groups. Re-refined Oil Promotion The goal of this program is to promote the use of re-refined motor oil to the boating community. Recycling Signs This program created over 600 custom signs that have been posted on marina dumpsters in six counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and San Bernardino). These signs provide boaters with local information about where to dispose of or recycle used motor oil, household hazardous waste, sewage, and oily bilge water. The Southern California Boater's Guide The Guide serves as an environmental and best management practice (BMP) resource for boaters, packaged in a comprehensive "cruising guide" for the Southern California boater. The guide incorporates BMPs and waste facility locations with general harbor information, tourist information, phone numbers, and safety tips. Approximately 9,000 Guides were distributed free of charge to boaters, marinas, yacht clubs, and local government agencies in 1998. Download sections From the Southern California Boater's Guide. The Changing Tide First published in 1997, The Changing Tide is a quarterly publication devoted to clean boating issues. The newsletter features environmentally friendly boating tips and alternatives, places to go, and tidbits of boating information. Subscribe to the Changing Tide or download past issues. Our Playground, Their World Video This 20-minute documentary-style video covers topics ranging from oil and fuel to gray water. It is currently the only instructional video resource on environmental issues and BMPs for boaters in the U.S. The video is shown in Coast Guard Boating Safety Classes around the nation and was distributed in May 2001 to private, public and non-profit environmental boating groups. Order a copy of Our Playground, Their World. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Identifying information gaps and facilitating information exchange between agencies, organizations, and marina businesses. Sewage Pumpouts Through a partnership with the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the SMBRC is working to promote the maintenance of existing sewage pumpout facilities and the expansion of access to sewage pumpout services in Los Angeles County. Facilities Survey This survey compiled a database for marina and fuel dock operators in LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties to learn more about what used motor oil collection services and fuel docks were available. Download a copy of the 2000 Facilities Survey. Boater Survey The SMBRP, in partnership with the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the County of Ventura, and the Community Environmental Council, conducted a pre- and post-program survey of the boating habits, environmental awareness, and demographics of boaters in Southern California in 1999 and 2000. This information is now being used to better gauge the most appropriate channels for outreaching this community and to provide baseline data for measuring changes in these variables over time. Click here to download a copy of the final reports. NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Providing forums for stakeholder groups to meet and share problems, ideas, and solutions. The California Clean Boating Network The California Clean Boating Network (CCBN) consists of government, environmental, business, boating, and academic organizations that collaborate to increase or improve clean boating education efforts in California. Through information exchange and consideration of new trends in clean boating practices, CCBN members increase their ability to educate the boating public about clean boating practices. For more information visit the California Clean Boating Network list-server. POLLUTION PREVENTION SERVICES Finding ways to bring convenient and cost-effective pollution prevention services to smallcraft harbor areas. Bilge Pad Exchange Program The Bilge Pad Exchange Program promotes the use of bilge pads by providing them free to boaters at selected harbors. The program also provides disposal areas for used pads. For locations, call (800) CLEANUP. In-water Hull Cleaner Certification Program The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission is developing a program to work towards improved water quality with in-water hull cleaners through the reduction of hazardous waste generated by hull cleaning. Participation will include use of established BMPs. Divers that participate in the program will be recognized with a certificate, a program decal to publicize participation, and additional publicity promoted by the SMBRC. IMPACTS OF BOATING POLLUTION While urban run-off remains the greatest source of pollution to the Bay, non-point pollution from marina and boating activities has also become an issue of increasing concern. Because boat operation and maintenance generally occurs directly on and adjacent to the water, there is often little or no dilution or buffering of the pollutants discharged. Most of the Bay's small craft traffic is concentrated in Marina del Rey (the world's largest man-made harbor) and Redondo Beach's King Harbor, which together have approximately 7,500 berths and hundreds more dry-docks. Marinas, which generally have placid waters, act as collecting basins for a variety of substances, such as raw and chemically treated sewage, fish wastes, antifouling paint additives, oil and grease, wash water, urban runoff, and trash. The contaminants of most concern discharged from boats into the Santa Monica Bay include anti-fouling bottom paints, which can contain copper and trace amounts of mercury, arsenic and PCBs. In addition, paint primers may contain zinc, chromium, lead, and most recently, tri-butyl tin (TBT). Although TBT can no longer be used on most recreational boats, TBT from earlier applications may slough off or be scraped off boats and is found in harbors and marina sediments. Other pollutants resulting from boating activities include oil and fuel emissions, accidental spills, coliform bacteria from boat sewage discharges, solvents used during routine cleaning, and solid waste such as trash and debris. LEARNING LINKS California Department of Boating and Waterways California Coastal Commission's Boating Clean and Green Campaign US Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS