U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe announced today $13.7 million will be awarded under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program in 2016. Washington State will receive $2,229,524 for more than 100 projects throughout the state’s coastal and inland waterways. This successful program has been protecting our waters, enhancing the experiences of anglers and recreational boaters and boosting local economies by funding the construction, installation and maintenance of pump-out facilities and floating restrooms throughout the state.
Since the program’s inception 33 years ago, the Service has allocated more than $234 million in CVA grants to U.S. states and territories, funded from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to this fund through excise taxes on certain fishing gear, boating equipment and motorboat and small engine fuel.
“Clean Vessel Act funding supports construction and maintenance of facilities in communities that depend largely on recreational boating for their economy – and depend on clean water for their health and the health of their environment,” said Regional Director Robyn Thorson. “These grants will also provide an immediate investment in construction jobs and infrastructure that will provide lasting value for recreational boaters, state agencies, and local communities.”
Funding allocated for the State of Washington will be managed through the state’s Parks and Recreation Commission. The 2016 projects will receive $1,281,524.76 to protect coastal waterways, with over $427,000 matched by the State and private marine funds and will focus on areas like the San Juan Islands, South Puget Sound, City of Aberdeen and Port of Willapa Harbor, among others.
The State’s inland waters will benefit with the $948,000.00 CVA grant dollars, $316,000 matched by the State and Private Marinas, to provide similar improvements to marinas and boating installations along the Columbia River, this year, focusing on the cities of Asotin and Entiat. Operation and maintenance support will be provided to an additional 108 existing public and private marinas throughout Washington.
Educational programs are also a big part of the CVA program. Through this grant cycle, money provided back to the States - derived from the excise taxes paid by its citizens - will be used to provide classes and materials to recreational boaters and anglers to teach them about clean waters and ways to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges.
For more information regarding the 2016 CVA grant awards visit:
http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2016/pdfs/2016CVA-Project-Summaries-FINAL.pdf.
For more information about the CVA program visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm.
To find a Washington Pump Out Location
?http://parks.state.wa.us/658/Washington-State
