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Maryland Clean Marinas Under Way
Autumn, 2015
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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
Clean Marina Program Manager
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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!
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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.
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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
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