Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California’s Boating Clean and Green Program and its partners are offering volunteer opportunities, workshops and seminars on ways to help keep California’s waterways clean. Motivated individuals with an ability and willingness to learn and convey important environmental messages are encouraged to participate. Registration is required to take part in these free events.
“It is important to know that environmental stewardship efforts we implement today to keep California’s waterways free from boat pollution, aquatic invasive species, and oil will help future generations enjoy clean waterways,” said California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways’ Deputy Director Lynn Sadler. “We hope that the public and boating facility operators take advantage of these free resources and learning opportunities.”
To register or become a volunteer, please contact the Boating Clean and Green Program Coordinator Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or Vivian.Matuk@coastal.ca.gov, or visit http://www.BoatingCleanandGreen.com for more details.
Below is a listing of the upcoming opportunities:
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Workshops
Workshop participants will gain an understanding of the impacts aquatic invasive species (AIS) have on the environment; learn to recognize them in their region; learn how to take action and prevent spreading the invasive species by inspecting and cleaning equipment and watercraft.
AIS pose serious threats to water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture, boating, fishing and the environment. Recreational activities, including boating and fishing, can spread the species from infested waters to uninfected waters.
Oakley – March 16
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 11
· Time: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
· Location: Big Break Regional Shoreline
69 Big Break Rd, Oakley, CA 94561
· Parking: Free
· Lunch: Purchase lunch at a nearby restaurant or bring your own lunch
· Partner: Big Break Regional Shoreline Park
Modesto – April 12
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 8
· Time: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
· Location: Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources
Training Center Room DE
3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358
· Parking: Free
· Lunch: Purchase lunch at a nearby restaurant or bring your own lunch
· Partner: Stanislaus County
Santa Cruz – May 19
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 13
· Time: 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
· Location: Seymour Marine Discovery Center, La Feliz Room
100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
· Parking: Free parking before the main gate, along Delaware Avenue and Natural Bridges Drive.
· Lunch: Purchase lunch at a nearby restaurant or bring your own lunch
· Partners: Seymour Marine Discovery Center and Save Our Shores
The workshops are being hosted by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Oil Spill Response Seminars for California Marinas and Yacht Clubs
California marinas and yacht clubs are invited to attend one of two free seminars to learn proper oil spill response techniques. Participants will gain the knowledge to prepare them in the event of an actual incident. Space is limited. Registration for both seminars is required by March 25. Seminars are scheduled to take place:
March 29, 2016 - Stockton
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Ebony Boat Club
445 West Weber Avenue
Stockton, CA 95203
April 1, 2016 – Newport Beach
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Marina Park - Bay Island Room
1600 West Balboa Boulevard
New Port Beach, CA 92662
As waterfront stakeholders, marina and yacht club operators possess extensive local waterway and boating knowledge, making them especially valuable responding to oil spills. Seminars will cover information on:
· California’s oil spill response structure
· Office of Spill Prevention and Response Equipment Grants
· Third party claim process
· General information on oil spill kits for boating facilities
· Marinas and Yacht Clubs Spill Response Communication Packet
· Tools and resources available to increase communication capabilities between boating facilities and offices of emergency services during oil spills
Key presenters include representatives from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California’s Boating Clean and Green Program and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Become a Dockwalker
The public is invited to train as Dockwalkers and conduct face-to-face boater education and distribute boater kits with educational information and pollution prevention tools. Dockwalkers visit marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows and other popular boating areas. Hours spent training and educating the public may qualify as community service.
Trainings are free and are set to begin in mid-March and run through early May 2016. Pre-registration is required. Visit the Dockwalker website to view the full training schedule and locations or to sign-up.
Marinas and yacht clubs are also encouraged to participate in the Dockwalker Program. Involvement in this program provides them with the educational materials and tools to operate a clean boating facility and minimize water quality impacts. This program provides marinas with points towards the Clean Marina Designation. Participation in the Dockwalker Program also counts towards the nomination of the Club of the Year under the community service category.
Partnerships with the Bay Foundation, Keep the Delta Clean Program, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership, San Mateo County and many more organizations have made this program successful.
California’s Boating Clean and Green Program is an education and outreach program conducted through the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways and California Coastal Commission. The program promotes environmentally-sound boating practices to marine businesses and boaters. For more information on the program, please visit http://www.BoatingCleanandGreen.com.
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