Marina Dock Age

On April 16, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the award of more than $12 million in competitive grants to ten states for 13 boating infrastructure projects. The grants, which will help fund the construction of docks, boat slips, and other facilities to support recreation boating, are made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program.

Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels.

BIG funds are used to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 10 days or less) that are 26 feet or more in length and used for recreation. The funds are also used to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program and recreational boating.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife received 22 eligible applications from 13 states. The 13 winning projects include:

• The California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with the Monterey Bay Boatworks Company, will receive $391,000 and match that amount with $433,300 to construct 603 feet of transient dock space and amenities at Breakwater Cove Marina in Monterey Bay.
• The California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with Treasure Island Marina, will receive $1,949,750 and match that amount with $2,237,250 to construct a 750-foot transient dock with vacuum sewage disposal, handicap access to the landside restroom, shower and laundry areas, water, power, and fire suppression.
• The California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with Channel Island Harbor, will receive $700,400 and match that same amount to replace an existing dock and gangway with 26 boat slips, a new dump station and pumpout, and ADA accessible restrooms and showers at Peninsula Park Transient Dock Facility in Oxnard.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with Rybovich Marina in West Palm Beach, Fla., will receive $1,247,705 and match that same amount to replace a bulkhead seawall and construct a floating dock with 2,948 feet of dockage for up to 112 transient vessels.
• FWC, in cooperation with the city of Rivera Beach, will receive $1,780,823 and match that amount with $1,800,825 to provide the first dedicated transient overnight dockage and day dockage for up to 42 vessels at Riviera Beach Municipal Marina.
• The Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management, in cooperation with the city of Michigan City and its Port Authority, will receive $1,480,895 and match that amount with $1,545,000 to install 36 transient slips and dock facilities at Michigan City’s Washington Park Marina on Lake Michigan.
• The Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources, in cooperation with the city of Paducah, will receive $900,000 and match that amount with $320,000 to construct a 400-foot dock with 26 slips and a fuel dock along the Ohio River.
• The state New Jersey Dept. of Transportation, in cooperation with the Township of Brick, will receive $807,051 and match that amount with $482,722 to construct a 550-foot dock, a handicap accessible lift, and associated upland support facilities in the Trader’s Cove Marina in the Township of Brick.
• The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, in cooperation with the Clayton Local Development Corporation, will receive $1,114,586 and match that amount with $626,956 to construct a transient dock facility along the St. Lawrence River, featuring restrooms, shower and laundry facilities at the Clayton Transient Dock Facility in Clayton.
• The North Carolina Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Beaufort Harbor Marina and Yacht Club and the Carteret County Economic Development Foundation, will receive $455,176 and match that amount with $506,176 to construct 50 transient slips and other amenities along Beaufort’s Town Creek.
• The Oregon State Marine Board, in cooperation with the Port of Coos Bay, will receive $645,000 and match that amount with $742,500 to provide transient slips for 13 vessels up to 55 feet in length and 449 feet of broadside tie-up space, with direct gangway connection to the Charleston Marina Complex.
• The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, in cooperation with the city of Clarksville, will receive $325,956 and match that amount with $325,955 to construct a dock, anchoring system, and gangway with utilities on the Cumberland River in Clarksville.
• The Virginia Department of Health, in cooperation with the Rockett’s Landing Marina, will receive $240,034 and match that same amount to add 15 transient slips, riprap embankment stabilization, full-service diesel and gasoline pumps, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities along the James River in Richmond.