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Water Quality (Marinas and Boating)
Water quality in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is affected by
many sources. Land-based sources including runoff from urban and
agricultural areas carry various pollutants into harbor waters.
Water quality is further affected by pollution generated directly
through harbor and boating activities. Naturally there is much diversity
in boating activities in the harbors from commercial vessels to
recreational boats of all sizes. Most of boater-generated impacts
fall under four general categories: toxic metals primarily from
anti-fouling paints; oil and gasoline from motor operation and maintenance;
solid waste and debris; and, bacteria and nutrients from boat sewage.
Most boater and harbor-generated pollution can be reduced through
education and training programs, the development of convenient waste
disposal facilities, and the application of new technologies. To
this end, the Water Quality Protection Program for the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary has worked with the harbormasters,
resource agencies, and boating community to develop ways to address
this source of pollution.
Summary of Marinas and Boating Strategies:
- Develop a public education and outreach program to communicate to boaters the environmental and economic impacts of polluting activities and simple pollution prevention methods.
- Develop a regional technical training program on pollution prevention for harbor and boatyard staff.
- Facilitate the collection of contaminated bilge water and waste oil by construction and operation of pumpout and waste handling sites, and distribution of oil-absorbent pads.
- Promote the use of containment methods to reduce waste runoff from boatyards and emissions from paint stripping.
- Encourage the use of less toxic paint on boats and improvements in underwater hull cleanings to prevent heavy scraping.
- Coordinate regulatory agencies to develop a pick-up system for toxic materials at harbors.
- Develop a check-off sheet for harbormasters to assess current status and annual progress of pollution control efforts.
What's Being Done Now:
- Bilgewater pumpout facilities installed and educational materials in Monterey and Moss Landing Harbors, and bilge pumpout planned for Santa Cruz harbor.
- Bilgewater pumpout systems
- Outreach to Vietnamese boat owners
- General outreach to enhance harbor stewardship.
- Oil pumpout facilities installed and educational materials in Monterey, Moss Landing, and Santa Cruz Harbors.
- Pumpout stations
- Outreach to non-English-speaking boat owners
- General outreach to enhance harbor stewardship.
- Collaborative efforts with the Santa Cruz-based nonprofit Save Our Shores and the California Integrated Waste Management Board to provide oil-absorbent pads to boaters for clean-up of small spills,
- Dispenser and pickup stations installed in Monterey, Moss Landing, and Santa Cruz Harbors
- Education and outreach to boaters on the need to prevent/clean up spilled oil.
- Brochures and maps of local harbors with locations of pumpout facilities and clean boating tips.
The success of this program relies on the combined efforts of a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, the boating community and non-profit organizations (such as Save Our Shores) in carrying out this plan. Everyone's contribution is necessary to help improve and preserve the water quality of Monterey Bay.
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