Many boat harbors are becoming certified as clean or green marinas. Establishment of clean marinas fits well into the overarching concept of clean boating. The more we can do to be environmentally responsible boaters, the more likely we will be able to continue enjoying access to the waterways we enjoy so much. Waterfront access continues to be a problem nationwide and establishment of clean marina standards can help with the environmental permitting required for a new mooring facility.
Maryland has a well-known clean marina program that is administered by their Department of Natural Resources. There are two broad areas of interest in managing clean marina standards; they are marina design and operations. I will briefly outline the measures considered in clean marina siting and design.
- Marina Flushing - Site and design marinas so that tides and currents aid in flushing of the its water regularly.
- Water Quality Assessment - Assess water quality as part of marina siting and design
- Habitat Assessment - Site and design marinas to protect against adverse effects on shellfish, wetlands, important riparian and aquatic habitat areas.
- Shoreline Stabilization - Shorelines should be stabilized. Vegetative methods are strongly preferred over structural systems.
- Storm Water Runoff - Implement runoff control strategies that include the use of pollution prevention activities and proper design of hull maintenance areas.
- Fueling Station Design - Design fueling stations to minimize and allow for ease of spill cleanup.
- Sewage Facility Design- Install pumpouts, dump station, and restroom facilities to reduce the release of sewage to surface waters.
You can see that the design and siting of a new marina can greatly reduce its environmental impact. Vessel operation standards for clean marinas will be discussed in the second part of this article on clean marina programs.
