Clean Water Grants for 2004

No one knows better what the local water quality issues are than the people who live near and use the waterways. That's where dozens of community groups come in and fortunately, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is there to assist them in tackling those problems. Whether there are fueling accidents at a nearby gas dock, too much litter left by weekend party boats, or bird nesting areas being disturbed, the Foundation's Clean Water Grants award up to $4,000 to nonprofit community groups for projects that teach boaters about cleaner habits around the waters they love.

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In 2004, the Foundation wanted to get more involved in projects that focused on clean fueling practices and solicited grants for this topic. This spring, the grants committee chose 19 groups to receive a total of $40,000. Almost half the groups took on clean fueling or petroleum pollution prevention as part of their project.

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Applications for Clean Water Grants are accepted once a year. The next deadline is Feb. 1, 2005. Applications will be available this fall by visiting www.BoatUS.com/foundation.> RELATED ARTICLE: 2004 Clean Water Grants

Coastal Water Watch & Southport Sail and Power Squadron, Southport, NC, to share environmental messages with boaters by installing large scale educational/interactive signs at four area marinas and two boat ramps.

Downtown Sailing Center, Inc., Baltimore, MD, to print clean fueling materials to distribute to area marinas and boat clubs, including clean fueling cards to attach to fuel pump handles.

Fairwind Yacht Club, Marina Del Rey, CA, to provide quarterly training to Marina del Rey fuel dock staff on clean fueling habits and to distribute clean fueling supplies and literature to area boaters.

Florida Sea Grant, Miami, FL, to purchase 1,000 printed bags and 1,000 absorbent pads to be distributed in fuel spill prevention kits for boaters.

Higgins Lake Advisory Committee, Roscommon, MI, to target 1,500 area boaters with clean boating packets with educational materials and tools. Four area marinas will receive clean fueling supplies to use at their fuel docks.

Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Ontario, NY, to post 50 signs and 25 literature boxes to educate boaters about preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species.

Lake Pend Orielle Idaho Club, Sandpoint, ID, to print approximately 3,500 color maps of the lake with information on boating safety and reducing pollution from boats.

Les Cheneaux Watershed Project, Cedarville, MI, to design and print about 3,000 color maps of the area that promote positive habits boaters can adopt to protect the environment.

Marine Merchants Association, Page, AZ, to purchase 1,000 fueling bibs to distribute to marinas, yacht clubs, and fuel docks on Lake Powell.

Massachusetts Marine Trades Educational Trust, Milton, MA, to develop and print approximately 2,500 booklets to educate boaters about clean fueling practices and laws.

Ontario Friends of the Parks, Morrisonville, NY, to erect a kiosk and recycling center that will educate boaters about the environment. An anti-littering decal will be developed and handed out with launch passes at local parks.

Passaic River Coalition, Basking Ridge, NJ, to develop and distribute approximately 5,000 brochures for boaters on the prevention of fuel spills.

Philpott Fairy Stone Safety Council, Bassett, VA, to imprint 2,000 litter bags that can be exchanged, full of collected trash, at the state park visitor's center for a food voucher at a local restaurant.

Salem Sound Coastwatch, Salem, MA, to print 1,500 double-sided, laminated "Quick Reference Guide to Clean Boating" cards.

St. Mary's River Management Committee, Folkston, GA, to produce 20 anti-pollution signs to post on the river and three monofilament fishing line recycling bins.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 5N-Division 7-Flotilla 12, Long Beach Township, NJ, to purchase 500 oil socks to distribute to boaters who have oil in their bilges during vessel safety checks.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 8-Division 4-Flotilla 4, Lafayette, LA, to construct 20 monofilament line collection sites and advertise the stations through brochures.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 8WB--Division 16-Flotilla 03, Grove, OK, to post 18 signs on Grand Lake to help boaters learn how to prevent the westward spread of zebra mussels.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 13-Division 03-Flotilla 05, Tacoma, WA, to develop and distribute 500 VHS tapes on how to properly refuel a boat and handle a fuel spill.