Chesapeake Bay News

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Clean Marina Program certified Hartge Yacht Harbor as the state’s 116th Clean Marina. Maryland now boasts 141 certified facilities.

Hartge Yacht Harbor is a new business started in April on the site formerly occupied by the Hartge Yacht Yard. It has two marine railways dating back to the early 1900s, a haul out slip, a 50-ton travel lift, a state of the art paint building, 270 slips, and a sewage pump-out. Marina staff and on-site contractors offer a wide variety of boat and engine repairs.

“I was happy to hear from the new management when they took over operations,” said DNR’s Clean Marina Program Coordinator Donna Morrow. “Their commitment to comply with all the regulations and then taking extra strides to protect the environment—all while starting a new business—is to be commended. They demonstrated a can do attitude throughout the process and are now a great example of practical solutions to environmental challenges.”

To qualify for the Clean Marina award, office assistant Judy Hollerbach and staff throughout the yard made a number of improvements. The staff was trained on all aspects of waste management and pollution prevention and legally required safety and stormwater plans were completed.

The dockmaster, Buddy Raley, ensured that all waste collected for recycling is handled properly. The yard recycles used oil, oil filters, batteries, and antifreeze. Waste gasoline, solvents or old paints are handled by a licensed waste hauler for proper disposal as well.

“I learned so much by going through the Clean Marina process,” said Hollerbach. “As a new business we had to start from scratch on all the paperwork, but the guidance we got from Clean Marina staff really helped make sense of it all. The guys in the yard never failed to come through with great solutions to the challenges that we came across and we are very proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Marina manager Nancy Bray believes that protecting our environment is paramount to being a successful marine business. “We all should share in this responsibility” said Bray.

source: DNR press release

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has certified the Port of Snow Hill (Worcester County) as the newest certified Maryland Clean Marina Partner, bringing the number of Clean Marina Partners to 25. Along with 115 larger Clean Marinas, Maryland now boasts 140 certified facilities.

“I want to congratulate the Port of Snow Hill and its management for their Clean Marina certification,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The Port should serve as an example for other marinas and for all Marylanders, that with only a little extra effort we can all move towards a more sustainable future.”

Partners are small facilities, without many amenities who primarily serve small, trailered boats as opposed to long term slip holders. They are usually public boat ramps or landings, such as Port of Snow Hill, or community marinas, and educational facilities.

The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary program for marine facilities that want to reduce their impact on Maryland’s waterways by implementing “best management practices” outlined in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. Certification also includes passing a site inspection by DNR staff for the initial certification, and again every three years to maintain certification. Approximately 23 percent of marinas in the state are now certified Clean Marinas.

The Port of Snow Hill is comprised of three small public parks, along the Pocomoke River. Each park offers slightly different amenities including fishing areas, two boat ramps, and short term dockage for boats up to 30’ in some areas and up to 40’ in another. The Sturgis Park area has a pump-out station, to remove sewage from vessel holding tanks. The primary thing that Park Manager Rick Merritt did to meet award criteria was to step up their environmental outreach to visitors on issues such as trash, recycling, and sewage.

“Using a bulletin board and materials provided by the Clean Marina Program helped us to increase our outreach to visitors about environmental and safety issues. We also give out oil absorbent pads and tip cards the program provided, which the visitors are happy to receive and use,” said Merritt.

“We are pleased to have another municipal boating facility added to the growing list of Clean Marina Partners. These facilities help us reach the many boaters who launch and retrieve smaller boats, instead of using marinas for long term dockage. Statistically, there are far more trailered boats using ramps, than larger boats kept in the water. It’s important that we connect with the boating facilities they use, to help educate this large group of boaters,” said Clean Marina Program manager Donna Morrow.

Marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs of any size are encouraged to learn more about the voluntary Clean Marina Initiative developed with both industry and government input. Marina operators can visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/, send an email to dmorrow@dnr.state.md.us or call 410-260-8773.

source: DNR press release

Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, Delegates Ron George and Richard Sossi and Secretary John R. Griffin recognized 12 Marinas this year that voluntarily adopted best management practices to certified as Clean Marinas at an awards luncheon in Annapolis.

“Every Marylander has a role in helping to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I want to commend these business owners for making a significant contribution to this effort.”

Since 1999 DNR has certified 115 Clean Marinas and 24 smaller facilities designated as Clean Marina Partners. These facilities voluntarily adopt best management practices, exceeding legally required permits and plans, to reduce polluted run-off into adjacent waterways. The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative is a public-private partnership developed in response to federal legislation, requiring the State to reduce ‘non-point source’ pollution from marinas, boatyards, and recreational boats.

“As the capital of Maryland and the Sailing Capital of the World, Annapolis is a very popular destination for thousands of boaters a year. The Annapolis Harbormaster’s Office is now playing a key role in helping the state’s Clean Marina program educate the boating public on simple ways they can truly make a difference when it comes to protecting water quality and saving the Bay,” Said Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer. “Annapolis is honored to be a Clean Marina partner in this important environmental program and we encourage every marina in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to become a clean marina.”

To receive certification a marina must meet its regulatory requirements as well as implement a significant number of recommendations from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook in areas such as sewage handling, waste containment and disposal, and marina management. The marinas must meet minimum scores—75 to 80 percent – in each area of the Award Checklist and pass a site inspection.

The Clean Marinas receiving the Governor’s Citation were:

Annapolis City Dock

Annapolis Maryland Capital Yacht Club

Annapolis Yacht Club Sailing Center

Campbell’s Boatyard at Jack’s Point (Oxford)

Clark’s Landing Marine Center (Chester)

Gunpowder Neck Boat Club (Aberdeen Proving Ground MWR)

Mill Creek Marina (Naval Station Annapolis)

Nanticoke Harbor Marina (Nanticoke)

National Harbor Marina (Oxon Hill)

Tradewinds Marina (Baltimore)

West Basin Marina (Patuxent River Naval Air Station)

Yacht Basin Company (Annapolis)

The Clean Marina Initiative was developed as an alternative to further regulations of the marina industry. Through the efforts of a committee comprised of leaders in the marine industry and government representatives, the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook was printed in 1998. Implementation of this program began in the winter of 1998.

Since 1997 the Clean Marina Initiative has used funding from several sources including NOAA and EPA and currently uses State Special Funds (Waterway Improvement). EPA’s Non-point Source Program also funded demonstration projects of pollution prevention equipment in selected watersheds for four years.

Marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs of any size are encouraged to learn more about the voluntary Clean Marina Initiative, developed with both government and industry input. Marina operators can either visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/, send an email to dmorrow@dnr.state.md.us or call 410-260-8773. Recreational boaters are also encouraged to visit the Clean Marina webpage to learn how they can prevent pollution and to sign the Maryland Clean Boater Pledge.

source: DNR press release