Boaters, anglers, communities and aquatic life in Alaska will reap benefits from $39,000 in grant funds, thanks to two U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs focusing on ensuring clean water and recreational access. Funding to states under the Service’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) and Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) programs total over $32 million nationwide in 2020.
Alaska will receive $39,000 in CVA funding to keep local waterways healthy. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the City and Bureau of Sitka plan to purchase and install a new boat sewage pump-out on the new float system in Crescent Harbor. Crescent Harbor is one of five harbors that the City and Borough of Sitka operates and maintains. The City and Borough of Sitka will provide an additional $13,000 in non-federal matching funds toward this CVA project.
“The boating community plays a crucial role in local economies, and keeping waterways safe, clean and accessible benefits anglers, other recreationists and wildlife,” said Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “These programs facilitate responsible boater behavior, make substantial contributions to local economies, and are great examples of the Department’s commitment to working with state and local partners to improve infrastructure and support conservation efforts
“Summer is here, and Americans are looking forward to enjoying boating and fishing,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Everyone -- local economies, people who love the outdoors, and wildlife and natural resources – wins when these outdoor opportunities are easy to access and help protect the health of our waterways.”
Clean Vessel Act grants provide much-needed funding to communities to build and maintain facilities that help boaters keep our harbors and bays clean. Pump-out systems built or purchased with these funds ensure recreational boaters have a safe, convenient and effective method to dispose of on-board sewage. The funds also support associated boater education programs. Since the program’s inception in 1993, the Service has allocated more than $296 million in CVA grants to states and territories.
“Southeast Alaska is a world-renowned destination for recreational boaters and sport fishing enthusiasts,” said Alaska Department of Fish & Game Sport Fish Division Director Dave Rutz. “The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is pleased to partner with local communities to improve public services for recreational boaters and ensure Alaskan waters remain clean.”
The CVA grant awarded to Alaska last year is funding new and renovated pump-out facilities in several Southeast and Southcentral Alaska communities. The previous CVA grant focused on recreational boater awareness of the impacts of improper sewage disposal and encouraged the use of pump-out stations, which helped drive interest for additional pump-out facilities.
The CVA program’s support through the user-pay-public-benefit cycle has contributed to the success of the Sport Fish Restoration program. States can apply for CVA funding, and they or their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas. These partnership efforts are a win-win for clean water and the many families who enjoy recreational boating and the great outdoors.
Grantees use BIG funds to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 15 days or less), that are 26 feet or more in length, and are used for recreation. Grantees may also use funds to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program and recreational boating. Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded $228 million to projects, including funding the construction of more than 6,000 berths and other amenities benefitting boaters across most states and U.S. territories.
Funding for the BIG and CVA programs comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to the trust fund through excise taxes and duties on certain fishing and boating equipment and boating fuels.
More information regarding the 2020 CVA grant awards can be found here. More information about the CVA program can be found here.
More information regarding the 2020 BIG grant awards can be found here. More information about the BIG program can be found here.
