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Maryland Clean Marinas Under Way 

Autumn, 2015

 Greetings!   

 

Summer is winding down and soon boats will need to be prepared and stored for winter.   In this issue I hope you enjoy reading about:

  • The newest Clean Marina,
  • Clean Marina tips for autumn, 
  • Proposed changes to Pumpout funding,
  • Helping slow the spread of zebra mussels in the Chesapeake, and
  • Increased safety education for stand up paddlers.

 To learn how to become a certified Clean Marina or if you have any other questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected] or visit dnr.maryland.gov/boating/cleanmarina   

 

~~~_/)  
Donna Morrow
Clean Marina Program Manager
DNR logo
  
 
George and Lisa Ritter proudly display their Clean Marina sign. 
Newest Maryland Clean Marina!
 
Island View Marina is the newest Maryland Clean Marina certified by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The facility earned the award after adopting practices from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook, meeting all environmental regulatory requirements, and passing a site inspection.  Maryland now boasts 156 certified Clean Marinas.  
 
Island View Marina is a family owned and operated, full-service marina founded in 1984. Located at the mouth of Crab Alley Creek, the marina offers services like bottom painting and complex mechanical troubleshooting and repairs. It is both full service and allows Do-It-Yourself (DIY) owners. Owner George Ritter has over 37 years of mechanical and repair experience in both sail and power boats. The marina also has a pumpout station and recycles most materials. Congratulations Island View Marina!    
 
Clean Marina Tips for Autumn
 
As the boating season winds down, boatyards and boaters will have many materials to dispose of. Used oil, antifreeze, batteries and metals are fairly easy to recycle. A list of free public collection sites for oil and antifreeze is available at http://www.menv.com/pages/recycling/usedoillocations.html 
 
What about hazardous materials such as bad gasoline, solvents, or paint? Businesses must hire licensed hazardous waste haulers to remove them. Individuals, however, can take small quantities to a state coordinated "household hazardous waste collection day." Marinas would be wise to encourage customers to take their waste to these events. A list by county can be found at http://www.mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/recyclingandoperationsprogram/educationandoutreach/pages/programs/landprograms/recycling/education/hhw.aspx Marinas are encouraged to share this information with customers! 
 
Other recommendations for service departments in the fall include: 
  • Promote shrink wrap recycling by charging a small fee when it is installed to cover costs in the spring. A few dollars per boat should cover the cost for a dedicated dumpster and recycling in the spring.
  • Use fuel stabilizers in boats being stored over the winter.
  • Fill fuel tanks only 75-80 percent to allow the fuel to expand in the tank in warm spring temperatures. Otherwise, when the fuel warms up, it will come out through the vent and onto the ground.
  • Encourage boaters to swap unused products (such as paints, thinners) by posting a "Need/Have" sheet in a common area. 
  • Remember to pumpout holding tanks as boats are hauled.
  • If you allow live-aboards, discuss plans the winter.  Group live-aboards on one pier, nearest the bath house for convenient access to facilities in winter. 
These are just a few best management practices for autumn.  Marina and boatyard operators can find many more in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. The Guidebook is available on line and hard copies are available by sending a request to  [email protected]  
Clean Vessel Act--Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program has published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) for the Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA). The ANPR asks you to share knowledge, opinions, experiences, research, and legal/policy implications on a variety of topics of interest related to CVA.
 
FWS will then use this information to help develop a proposed rule. They are seeking responses from a wide range of interest groups, such as boaters, vendors, engineers, harbor masters, parks departments, marina and boater associations, the general public, as well as Federal, State, and local governments. FWS asks not only for your responses to the topics in this notice, but also your help in distributing the information to reach a wide range of expertise and interest.
 
Specific topics of interest to FWS include: information on current and future technology that could improve how we deliver grant benefits, legal restrictions or considerations that prevent States from being able to take advantage of all eligible program benefits, and better defining how and to whom we deliver program benefits.
The ANPR is published at:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-14/pdf/2015-22723.pdf Comments are due by November 13, 2015.


Marinas Can Help Slow the Spread of Zebra Mussels in Chesapeake zebra mussels
 
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently confirmed the presence of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymporha) in tributaries of the upper Western Shore near Middle River in Baltimore County.  On August 17, 2015, a waterman alerted DNR Biologist Brenda Davis of small zebra mussels fouling their crab gear off the Gunpowder, Bush and Middle Rivers. The next day, DNR Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystem Program biologists found numerous mussels in aquatic vegetation while trawling Middle River.

"Zebra mussels are an aggressive invasive species and reproduce at a very prolific rate, out-competing native species for needed resources," said Matt Ashton, a DNR biologist and mussel expert. "These mussels quickly overtake and cover all available areas to such an extent that they can clog water intake structures, boats, moorings, ropes, fishing lines, traps, and even dams and power plants. Their migration further south toward Baltimore may pose a serious economic and environmental threat to the bay and its inhabitants."

Marinas
can help by educating boaters--especially anyone using a boat ramp--about the importance of washing and drying the vessel between trips. A video showing how to clean a boat and trailer is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqQ7P4M6Hoc

More information about zebra mussels including a map and free poster is available at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/invasives/ZebraMussel.asp 

DNR Increases Safety Education for Paddlers 
  
When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) has led the nation in growth with a 38 percent increase in participation from 2013 to 2014 (Boat U.S.). But as these human-powered watercraft become more common in crowded harbors, busy waterfronts and other navigable waterways, sharing the water with both recreational boats and commercial vessels requires paddlers and rental operators to up their safety game. 
 
The Natural Resources Police Safety Education team is increasing efforts to educate stand up paddlers, rental operators, and other boaters about smart safety precautions.  Like other paddle craft, SUP are considered vessels by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Therefore, operators must have an approved personal flotation device on board (wearing them is strongly recommended), a sound producing device (i.e., a whistle), and, if they operate after sundown, they must have a white light available in sufficient time to avoid a collision. A flashlight or headlamp meets this requirement; a glow stick does not.  To learn about Maryland requirements for SUP and all vessels, visit http://dnr2.maryland.gov/Boating/Pages/safety.aspx or call (410) 643-8502 ext. 2211 

Maryland Clean Marina Initiative | MD Dept. of Natural Resources | 580 Taylor Avenue, E-4 | Annapolis | MD | 21401