Submitted by Washington State Parks.

Keeping Washington’s waterways clean will get easier thanks to more than $900,000 in federal pass-through grants for recreational boat pumpout projects statewide.

Awarded by the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA), the grants focus on sewage disposal systems serving recreational boaters and educational programs that inform boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.

“We are excited to support the expansion and upgrade of pumpout facilites for recreational boaters,” said Catherine Buchalski Smith, CVA Grant Program manager. “A functional network of public pumpout facilites is key to helping boaters safely and legally dispose of their on-board sewage.”

The new projects will also help recreational boaters comply with the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone Law, which has been in effect since May 10, 2018.

Grant recipients provide a 25% match and are contributing more than $500,000.

Local grant projects awarded:

• Deer Harbor Marina, Orcas Island — $13,955 to replace stationary dockside pumpout.

• Port of Friday Harbor – $108,650 to install new pumpout eco-barge and plumbing upgrades.

• Port of Lopez – $109,440 for two years of annual pumpout boat operation and maintenance expenses and partial funding for pumpout boat upgrades. Learn more about this project at portoflopez.com/pump-out-boat.

• Roche Harbor Marina – $48,750 to purchase new pumpout boat.

In addition to funding pumpout projects, the CVA Grant Program funds the annual operation and maintenance of more than 100 pumpout and dump station facilities across the state. Last year, more than $480,000 of grant funds went towards operating expenses.

To locate pumpout and dump stations across the state, boaters can visit PumpoutWashington.org, or download the free Pumpout Nav app on the Apple Store or Google Play.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission administers the state’s Clean Vessel Act Grant Program. Federal grant funding is awarded to the Washington CVA Grant Program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a nationally competitive process for all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The CVA Grant Program also provides funding for Pumpout Washington, a public outreach program managed by Washington Sea Grant.

For more information about the CVA program, visit parks.state.wa.us/758/Clean-Vessel-Act-Grant-Program or contact Catherine Buchalski Smith, 360-902-8659.