2006 News Releases

Governor Appoints New Member to Boating and Waterways Commission

12/26/2006

SACRAMENTO – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the appointment of Douglas Metz, 72, of Coronado, to the Boating and Waterways Commission.

“I am very pleased and honored by this appointment. I have long admired Governor Schwarzenegger’s dedication to the environment and his understanding of the importance of waterways and recreation to California,” Metz said. “I view my appointment as an opportunity to further my interest in boating safety, preservation of clean waterways, and public access for recreational uses of California’s unmatched water resources.”

Metz is a sailor, skippering his own 30-ft. Catalina as well as crewing on racing boats. He is also past president of the Coronado Cays Homeowner’s Association, a position in which he regularly dealt with aquatic issues including boating access and environmental protection.

Since 1998, Metz has served as president of Metz Associates, where he provides counsel to importers and exporters of wines and spirits. From 1977 to 1998, he was managing director and general counsel of Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of America. Previously, he was associate director and general counsel for the Council of International Economic Policy, assistant director for the President's Economic Policy Board and executive director for the Domestic Council Committee on Right of Privacy at the White House from 1974 to 1977. Metz is Republican.

This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.

The Boating and Waterways Commission provides advice and consent for all small craft harbor loans and boat launching facility grants proposed by the Department of Boating and Waterways.

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Click here to download a photo of Commissioner Metz.

DBW Offers Advanced Accident Investigation Course

11/28/2006

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Boating and Waterways is expanding its Marine Law Enforcement Training Program by developing a 40-hour Advanced Accident Investigation Course.

“There were 800 recreational boating accidents in California in 2005,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of the California Department of Boating and Waterways. “Understanding how accidents are happening helps us address our education and enforcement efforts accordingly.”

DBW currently offers a basic boating accident investigation course that is designed for officers who have been on marine patrol for a minimum of one year. The advanced course will cater to officers who have taken the basic course and need further specialized training in boating accident investigation and reconstruction.

A major element of the course will be a new state-of-the-art 3-D animation software package to help reconstruct various crash scenarios that could not be safely demonstrated. “The 3-D animation allows instructors to enter details of an accident including speed, type of vessel, environmental effects such as water and wind conditions, and adjust the yaw, roll and pitch based on the investigator’s evidence data and the system will recreate that exact accident,” explained Mary Thomas, who coordinates DBW’s Enforcement Training Program. “That allows officers to see what an accident of that nature looks like so they will recognize it when they see it in person.”

Other subject matter topics include elements of an investigation, physical reconstruction, evidence identification and processing, kinetic energy, purpose and uses of a CAD system, actual vessel collisions and examinations, operational law violation elements in criminal cases and a mock trial.

“Every tool we can use to make the training more thorough benefits the boating public,” Tsuneyoshi said. “We are looking forward to hearing from the officers in the pilot course to see what they think of it.” The curriculum has been submitted to the Commission on California Peace Officer Standards and Training for certification. The pilot course is scheduled for March 2007 in Northern California.

For further information on California’s Law Enforcement Training Program, please visit www.dbw.ca.gov

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Editor: Below are captions for the available photos. Sample photos inserted for review only. Contact jiljana@parks.ca.gov for hi resolution versions.

If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Take a boating safety course.

“Aground” – Boating accidents often have a variety of contributing factors, which accident investigators have to uncover and sift through to determine how and why an accident happened.

DBW Official Receives National Award

10/03/2006

SACRAMENTO – A Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) official was recognized by the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Wednesday, September 27, for his efforts to develop the Sacramento State University Aquatic Center.

Mike Ammon, a boating facilities program manager with DBW, received the Outstanding Project Award for the Midsize Access Category from SOBA at the association’s national conference in Tampa, Florida. This is Ammon’s third national award.

Ammon began working to create the Sacramento State University Aquatic Center in 1981 when he discovered that some waterfront land controlled by California State Parks was available at Lake Natoma. “State Parks was planning to use the old sign shop on the site as a storage facility, which would have been such a waste. The Department intervened with the idea of placing the CSUS Aquatic Center there,” Ammon explained. “We started out just purchasing some kayaks for the program and it really grew from there.”

DBW has funded the development of facilities over the years to keep pace with the demands of the boating public and continues to fund expansions. The department has spent $3,850,000 in capital outlay funds for the development of this boating instruction and safety center. The Aquatic Center has grown from a couple of 40-foot storage containers to become a complex of buildings housing facilities and equipment to serve more than 10,000 boaters last year. The center offers sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, personal watercraft safety, and basic power boating classes. It also hosts children’s programs in the summer and boating law enforcement officer training classes with DBW.

“The CSUS Aquatic Center’s success continues to exceed our wildest expectations, and it is due in large part to Mike Ammon’s commitment to this facility,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of DBW. “As an avid kayaker himself, Mike recognized the value of this center early on and for more than 20 years he has worked to see the aquatic center achieve its potential.”

SOBA is an organization devoted to the acquisition, development and administration of public recreational boating facilities nationwide. SOBA provides a forum for the exchange of views, ideas, concepts and experiences related to all aspects of recreational boating facilities. SOBA presents annual awards to individuals and agencies nationwide that have made significant contributions to advancing public boating access programs. The criteria for this award include developing boating access facilities that are innovative in design and construction, are economically beneficial, and are safe and accessible. For more information about SOBA, visit www.sobaus.org.

The Department of Boating and Waterways enhances public access to the waterways and promotes on-the-water safety through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. For more information about DBW, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.

For more information about the Sacramento State University Aquatic Center, visit http://www.csusaquaticcenter.com/index.htm

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Editor: Photos are available at www.dbw.ca.gov/PressRoom/index.asp

If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Take a boating safety course.

Boating Infrastructure Grants are Available for Marina Operators

08/25/2006

SACRAMENTO – Marina operators can now apply for a National Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) for transient boat dock improvements through the Department of Boating and Waterways. The deadline to submit applications is October 24, 2006.

Nationally, $12 million in BIG funding is available this year for projects to install or upgrade visitor tie-up facilities for recreational boats 26 feet long or more. Eligible projects include the renovation or construction of visitor docks, restrooms, gangways, and dockside utility hookups. It is a competitive program open to both publicly owned and privately owned marinas.

Applicants should first review the federal guidelines, available at www.dbw.ca.gov/big.asp, to determine if they meet the necessary requirements. Those marina operators eligible to compete in this program should follow the BIG Proposal Template available at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/PDF/BIGproposal.pdf or contact Kevin Atkinson at (916) 327-1788. Applicants must submit a grant proposal to the Department of Boating and Waterways following the federal guidelines on or before October 24, 2006.

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Boating Infrastructure Grants are Available for Marina Operators

08/25/2006

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Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Explored for California

08/20/2006

SACRAMENTO – On August 17, the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) hosted the second of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. Information about the first meeting is available at www.dbw.ca.gov/BoaterEdReq.asp.

“The boating community has strongly endorsed the idea of mandatory education for boat operators and has provided a blueprint for how such a law should be developed,” said DBW Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi. “Our next step is to develop a proposal for what legislative changes are necessary to make that happen.”

More than 50 people participated in the all-day workshop including boaters, industry and trade representatives, marina organizations, boating law enforcement personnel, educators and accident victims. An informal straw poll from the first meeting found that nearly 80 percent of participants favored mandatory boat operator education, so the focus of this meeting was discussion about the various options available to craft and implement a law.

Topics for discussion included:

who should be required to take a course and what vessel types should be covered
whether any boaters should be grandfathered (exempt from the requirement)
how the course should be offered and in what formats
whether a test should be included and how it should be administered
length of phase-in
whether and how the test and course might be challenged (take the exam without the course)
how courses taken previously might apply
whether and how certification from other states might be considered
what safety education certification should be required for vessel renters and new owners
what the penalties should be for operating a vessel without certification
what form proof of certification might take

Participants were given individual handheld electronic voting equipment to weigh in on each issue and their responses were tabulated to derive a picture of what participants wanted a law to be in general. Based on the votes, the majority of participants wanted:

a short phase-in period of four to six years not including the time necessary for DBW to prepare for implementation
to require a safety education course and an exam, but not an on-the-water proficiency exam for all vessel operators
vessels subject to the requirement to include all motorized vessels over 15 horsepower and sailboats over 8 feet
no grandfathering based on age of the operator
to allow boaters to take the exam without the course (challenge) if the operator can show proof that a course was previously taken
for renters, an abbreviated safety course and exam tailored to the specific boating type
out-of-state operators to be exempt from the certification requirement for up to 60 days
the penalty for operating a vessel without proof of certification to be an infraction (min. $50, max. $250 fine)
courts to allow waiver of the penalty if a course is taken within 60 days of the violation
to require a hands-on proficiency exam for operators convicted of major moving violations, boating under the influence, and reckless boating

DBW will now synthesize these requirements into proposed legislative changes that would implement mandatory boat operator safety education in California. A draft of legislative changes necessary will be posted on the DBW website at www.dbw.ca.gov/BoaterEdReq.asp for public review and comment. To request a hard copy of the draft legislative changes, contact Jared Zucker at Jared.Zucker@parks.ca.gov.

The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments.

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If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Take a boating safety course.

Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Explored for Californian

08/15/2006

Topics for discussion included:

who should be required to take a course and what vessel types should be covered
whether any boaters should be grandfathered (exempt from the requirement)
how the course should be offered and in what formats
whether a test should be included and how it should be administered
length of phase-in
whether and how the test and course might be challenged (take the exam without the course)
how courses taken previously might apply
whether and how certification from other states might be considered
what safety education certification should be required for vessel renters and new owners
what the penalties should be for operating a vessel without certification
what form proof of certification might take

a short phase-in period of four to six years not including the time necessary for DBW to prepare for implementation
to require a safety education course and an exam, but not an on-the-water proficiency exam for all vessel operators
vessels subject to the requirement to include all motorized vessels over 15 horsepower and sailboats over 8 feet
no grandfathering based on age of the operator
to allow boaters to take the exam without the course (challenge) if the operator can show proof that a course was previously taken
for renters, an abbreviated safety course and exam tailored to the specific boating type
out-of-state operators to be exempt from the certification requirement for up to 60 days
the penalty for operating a vessel without proof of certification to be an infraction (min. $50, max. $250 fine)
courts to allow waiver of the penalty if a course is taken within 60 days of the violation
to require a hands-on proficiency exam for operators convicted of major moving violations, boating under the influence, and reckless boating

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If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Take a boating safety course.

Marina Operators: The Deadline for Transient Docks Grants has been extended to December 1st

08/10/2006

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) will host a stakeholder workshop August 17 in Sacramento to discuss a potential law requiring boaters to take a safety course. This is the second of two meetings hosted by DBW to evaluate boater interest in developing a boat operator education requirement in California.

“Our first meeting on this issue last month in Los Angeles revealed that the boating community is leaning heavily in favor of requiring all boaters to be educated about safe operation. Now we need to work out how such a law might work,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of DBW. “This meeting will build on the information we’ve gathered and move forward to develop the structure of proposed legislation.”

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento and it is open to the public. Information will be presented on the many details involved in a mandatory boater education law such as delivery format, reciprocity with other states, penalties for non-compliance, and rental requirements. Members of the public will also have an opportunity to comment.

"DBW is holding these sessions to facilitate an informed public dialog on the issue, to hear from all stakeholders" said Tsuneyoshi. "As such, we want to allow the process to move forward. The Department has no position at this time on a mandatory education law. However, we do believe that an educated boater is safer and we take every opportunity to encourage boaters to take a safety course."

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and more than 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory Boat Operator Education is on the NTSB's list of Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements last year. A boater education law passed the California Senate and Assembly in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis.

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If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Take a boating safety course.

Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

07/21/2006

LOS ANGELES – The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los Angeles, is scheduled for August 17, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento.

“There is no question that California’s boating accidents and fatalities are too high. That’s a problem for anyone who cares about boating and about public safety,” said DBW Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. “The question we hope to answer today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?”

Nearly 40 people participated in the all-day workshop including boaters, representatives of boating interest groups, boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina operators, boating law enforcement personnel and government agencies. “The cooperation of so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively addressing what we all know is a problem,” Tsuneyoshi said.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory Boat Operator Education is on the NTSB's list of Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements last year.

Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about how mandatory education is working in other states. “If California is on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in fatalities is expected at 10-15%, saving 6 to 10 people a year,” he said. “I can’t tell you what to do, but California needs to join the states that have taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating accidents and fatalities.”

“Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance boater safety and education,” said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California.

Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about the group’s historical opposition to mandatory boater education. “We’ve always taken the position that you can’t legislate good judgment, but now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water,” Monihan said.

More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the effects boating accidents can have. Pam Rudy’s son Kyle was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California. “I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to do this now,” she said.

A boater education law passed the California Senate and Assembly in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. “If we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “If we continue saying if it’s not this way or that way, it’s unacceptable then there will just continue being more tragedies. Each day that we don’t have mandatory boater education, we are responsible and there will be more tragedies. We must find a way to come to consensus and move this forward.”

The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any proposed legislation. “The variations on structuring a boating education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is important to someone,” Tsuneyoshi said.

In an informal poll, about 75% of the meeting participants indicated conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law in California. “Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who might sponsor such legislation,” Tsuneyoshi said.

The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to lead the process yet. “The administration has been clear that it wants any boater education legislation to come from the boating community,” said David Johnson, Deputy Director of DBW. “The Department can provide technical assistance to any group that wants to sponsor, but DBW can’t be the sponsor.”

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Dockwalker Training Offered for "Green" Boaters: Volunteers will Conduct Outreach on Clean Boating

07/07/2006

SAN FRANCISCO – The Boating Clean and Green Campaign will train Delta-area volunteers on Saturday, July 22 to be “Dockwalkers” who promote environmentally-sound boating throughout California’s marina community. The training will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oxbow Yacht Club,100 Oxbow Marina Drive in Isleton, CA 95641-9706. An optional Dockwalking activity will follow from 2:10 to 3 p.m.

Dockwalkers will be trained to engage members of the public and the boating community in adopting clean boating practices. Once training is complete, these volunteers don their official “Dockwalker” hats and conduct face-to-face boater education while visiting marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows and special events.

Training is free, and Dockwalking is fantastic way to interact with boaters to help keep California’s marinas, waterways, and ocean clean and healthy. Food and beverages will be provided during the training, and hours spent training or educating the public qualify as community service. In the last five years, more than 500 Dockwalkers have distributed 52,000 boater kits statewide!

The Boating Clean and Green Campaign is an education and outreach program through the California Department of Boating and Waterways and California Coastal Commission. It promotes environmentally-sound boating practices to marine business and boaters. Other partners in the Dockwalker program include the Contra Costa County Public Works, San Joaquin County Department of Public Works, the City of Stockton and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

For information about the Dockwalker program, and to register for training, please visit www.coastal.ca.gov/ccbn/ccbndx.html, or contact Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or vmatuk@coastal.ca.gov.

State Budget Increases Funding for Boating Law Enforcement

07/07/2006

SACRAMENTO – The 2006-07 state budget Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on June 30 includes $83,461,000 in expenditures for the Department of Boating and Waterways, an increase of $11,297,000 over the previous year’s budget.

“The highlight of Governor Schwarzenegger's budget for DBW is a significant increase in funds for boating law enforcement. With more boats on the water each year, additional law enforcement is needed to provide for public safety,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of DBW. “This budget will also fund much-needed public access boating facility projects which support tourism and generate revenue for both the public and private sectors. ”

This budget provides an additional $2.5 million for boating law enforcement aid for local governments for a total of $10.6 million. The additional funding was a result of SB 255 (Torlakson), which Governor Schwarzenegger signed last year, increasing the vessel registration fee from $10 to $20 collected every two years. Another $225,000 in federal funds was added to the boating law enforcement equipment grant program as well, increasing that program to $1.2 million.

Boating and Waterways’ budget includes $24,505,000 for loans to public agencies to construct and improve marinas; $3,500,000 to be made available for loans to private sector marina owners to construct and improve marinas; $9,585,000 for grants to public agencies to construct and improve boat launching facilities; $5,960,000 for infrastructure expenditures to construct and improve boating facilities on state lands and in state parks; $1,500,000 for grants, studies and staff support for coastal beach erosion control and beach restoration projects; $500,000 for abandoned watercraft abatement grants; $10,036,000 in federal funds for a variety of boating safety, education and access programs including vessel sewage pumpout education and grants, and a coastal data information program.

Funding for DBW is derived primarily from boating gasoline taxes, vessel registration fees, and loan repayments.

$3.5 Million in Loans Approved for Boating Facilities in Oxnard and San Francisco

06/28/2006

VENTURA -- At a meeting in Ventura Tuesday, the Boating and Waterways Commission approved $3.5 million in loans for boating infrastructure improvements and elected new officers.

The Commission elected H.P. “Sandy” Purdon, of San Diego, to the post of Chairman. Purdon was initially appointed to the Boating and Waterways Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004. He was appointed to another four-year term in April. He is the president of H.P. Purdon & Company, Inc., a management firm handling San Diego tidelands marinas, and a general partner of the Shelter Cove Marina, Ltd.

Lenora Clark, a retired United States Postal Service executive from Discovery Bay, was elected Vice Chairman. She is a member of the Ebony Boat Club where she coordinates boating activities for inner-city youth. Since 2001 she has served on the Board of Director’s for Recreational Boaters of California. Clark was appointed to the Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004.

The Commission approved the following boating facility loans:

Ventura County — Oxnard Marinas

The Commission approved a phase one private loan of $1,125,000 to Oxnard Marinas Ltd., to improve the Peninsula and Bahia Marinas in Channel Islands Harbor. This is the first of six proposed separate loans to fund improvements to marina berths, utilities, gangways, security gates, the harbormaster building restroom and to construct a small dinghy dock.

San Francisco — Pier 38

The Commission approved a private loan of $2,375,000 to construct a fuel dock and additional floating docks for transient boaters at the Pier 38 Maritime Recreation Center in San Francisco. This loan is paired with a $1,500,000 grant the Pier 38 Recreation Center has been awarded from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant program.

Also during the meeting, the Commission approved an extension for existing loan agreements with the City of Martinez for the Martinez Marina.

The one-day meeting included a field trip to view the proposed boating facility project at Oxnard Marinas, a presentation on environmental issues such as the “Clean Marinas California” program, and an update on state and federal programs related to copper-based anti fouling paint and invasive species.

Department loans and grants require the consent of the seven-member Boating and Waterways Commission, appointed by the governor. Funding for the projects is derived from the taxes paid by boaters on the purchase of gasoline for their vessels and from the repayment of loan principal and interest

DBW Launches Boating Safety Campaign, Boater Education Outreach "If it's YOUR Boat, it's YOUR Responsibility"

06/28/2006

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has launched a media and outreach campaign to encourage boaters to be responsible when operating their boats.

“ California is known for having some of the best boating in the nation, but we’re also known for having far too many boating accidents. Getting people educated about boating safety will go a long way toward reducing accidents and fatalities on the water,” said Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Resources.

DBW is reaching out to boaters through safety-oriented radio spots and a pair of community meetings to gather ideas from boaters about improving boater education. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 63 percent of boaters in California have never taken a boating safety course. “We have to improve the education rate for California boaters. A vessel operator’s understanding of the “rules of the road’ is the very basis of safety on the water,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of DBW. “There has to be a common understanding of boating rules among all boat operators, and that is not happening now.” Listen to them online at www.dbw.ca.gov/BoaterInfo/AdCampaign.aspx

The media campaign is a combination of first-hand accounts of accidents from victims and statistics on the legal consequences boaters face for boating while intoxicated. The spots focus on the responsibility of the vessel operator with the tag line: “If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility.”

“For the past several years, we have used humor in our boating safety campaigns to encourage boaters to avoid alcohol, obey the rules of the waterways, and take a boater safety course. This year, we’re digging a bit deeper,” said Tsuneyoshi. “There’s no question that our new radio ads will strike a chord with people because they are emotional stories. But we believe that if boaters know the reality of what can happen when they or another boater isn’t trained, isn’t paying attention or isn’t being responsible, safety will improve, injuries will be reduced and lives may be saved.”

The radio campaign will air this week in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mojave, Redding, San Diego, Stockton, San Bernardino/Riverside, and Sacramento. The spots will run Thursday to Sunday each week through Labor Day. The campaign also features waterproof posters, barrel wraps and mobile billboards at 100 marinas and launch ramps statewide and a newly designed website at www.BoatSmarter.com. The DBW Safety Team will be out with their pontoon boat this season making day trips to 30 popular waterways. They will give away safety items featuring the slogan, “My Boat. My Rules” and register people for a chance to win a week-long houseboat vacation from Forever Resorts.

In addition, DBW is hosting a set of two public forums to evaluate boater interest in developing a boat operator education requirement in California.

The first meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 20, 2006, at the Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Airport, La Jolla Room, 6225 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles.
The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in the previous one, is scheduled for August 17, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento.

Information will be presented on boating education requirements in other states and the impact these requirements have had on boating safety. Members of the public will also have a brief opportunity to comment if they notify DBW of their interest in advance. If you would like to attend either meeting, please e-mail Jared Zucker at Jared.Zucker@parks.ca.gov or call (888) 326-2822.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and more than 30 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education in all states. Mandatory Boat Operator Education is on the NTSB's list of Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements last year.

Boating and Waterways Commission will Consider $3.5 Million for Boating Facilities on June 27

06/16/2006

VENTURA—The California Boating and Waterways Commission will meet June 27 to elect officers, discuss copper anti-fouling paint, and consider funding $3.5 million in new loans. The meeting is open to the public and will convene at 10:30 a.m. at the Marriott, 2055 Harbor Boulevard, Ventura. The projects to be considered are:

Ventura County— Oxnard Marinas
The Commission will consider a first loan of $1,125,000 to improve the Peninsula and Bahia Marinas. Loan funds will be used to make improvements to marina berths, utilities, gangways, security gates, the harbormaster building restroom and construction of a small dinghy dock.

San Francisco—Pier 38
The Commission will consider a private loan of $2,375,000 to construct a fuel dock and additional floating docks for transient boaters at the Pier 38 Maritime Recreation Center in San Francisco. This loan is paired with a $1,500,000 grant the Pier 38 Recreation Center has been awarded from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant program.

Contra Costa County—Martinez
The Commission will consider a public loan time extension on existing loan agreements between the Department of Boating and Waterways and Martinez Marina.

Department of Boating and Waterways loans and grants require the consent of the seven-member Boating and Waterways Commission appointed by the governor. Funding for the projects is derived from the taxes paid by boaters on the purchase of gasoline for their vessels and from the repayment of loan and principal interest.

Dockwalker Training Offered for "Green" Boaters: Volunteers will Conduct Outreach on Clean Boating

06/05/2006

SAN FRANCISCO – The Boating Clean and Green Campaign will train Delta-area volunteers on Saturday, June 17 to be “Dockwalkers” who promote environmentally-sound boating throughout California’s marina community. The training will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cesar Chavez Central Library, 605 N. El Dorado St., Stockton. An optional Dockwalking activity will follow from 2:10 to 3 p.m.

For information about the Dockwalker program, and to register for training, please visit www.coastal.ca.gov/ccbn/ccbndx.html, or contact Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or vmatuk@coastal.ca.gov.

May 20-26 is National Safe Boating Week: "There's No Reason Not To Wear It!"

05/17/2006

SACRAMENTO – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the U.S. Congress in declaring the week of May 20-26 Safe Boating Week. The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is hosting activities during National Safe Boating Week to remind Californians “There’s no reason not to wear it!”

“This campaign works to promote a vital safety message that, if heeded, could prevent hundreds of fatalities each year nationwide,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, director of DBW. “If every boater would wear a life jacket while on the water, boating-related deaths could be reduced by as much as 85 percent.” Modern life jackets are more comfortable, more attractive, and more wearable than years past and are critical safety equipment for boaters.

Last year in California, 57 people died in boating-related accidents and 425 people were injured. Most boating fatalities occur due to drowning after a fall overboard or capsizing. The vast majority of these fatalities and injuries were caused by human error or poor judgment and not by the boat, equipment, or environmental factors. Boating fatalities account for the second highest number of transportation related fatalities, surpassed only by automobile accidents.

“With almost a million registered boats using California’s waterways, we see a proportionate number of boating accidents each year due to operator inattention, alcohol consumption and excessive speed,” Tsuneyoshi said. “National Safe Boating Week encourages all who are involved in boating - organizations and individuals – to focus our attention on improving safety.”

According to a U.S. Coast Guard report, 63 percent of California’s boaters have never taken a boating safety course. “We know that 38% of boating accidents are collisions with other vessels, so if operators took a boating education course and learned the rules of the road, fatalities would go down,” Tsuneyoshi said.

Throughout the week, DBW is partnering with aquatic centers, businesses and organizations to hold events that promote boating safety and the use of lifejackets. Events include life jacket trade-in days, hands-on boating instruction, safety demonstrations and open houses at some of the most popular waterways in the state. For a complete list of events and details, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.

National Safe Boating Week is an annual educational campaign coordinated by the National Safe Boating Council (www.safeboatingcouncil.org) during the week before Memorial Day. The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments.

Governor Appoints Three to Boating and Waterways Commission<

04/04/2006

SACRAMENTO – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed three Boating and Waterways Commission members with backgrounds ranging from boating safety and law enforcement to marina recreation. Commissioners on the seven-member board serve four year terms. Each position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.

Robert Nagata, 60, of Los Angeles has been a member of the commission since 1999 and has been appointed for an additional term.

Nagata has been involved in boating since 1977 and is an avid fisherman. In 1987 he earned a United States Coast Guard license to operate uninspected small passenger vessels and has continuously maintained that license to the present.

Nagata is an attorney currently serving Of Counsel to the law firm Lamb & Kawakami, LLP. He started his career as a tax accountant for Price Waterhouse and Company. He has practiced tax and corporate law since 1973 and was certified as a taxation specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization in 1977.

Nagata was previously a partner with the international law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue as well as with the Los Angeles law firm of Musick, Peeler & Garrett. He is a graduate of University of Southern California, University of San Diego School of Law and Golden Gate University’s Master of Taxation program.

H.P. "Sandy" Purdon, 63, of San Diego, was initially appointed to the Boating and Waterways Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004 to fulfill the remainder of a term and is now entering his first full term.

He has been president of H.P. Purdon & Company, a management firm handling San Diego tidelands marinas, since 1977. He is a member and past president of the California Marina Recreation Association, a member and past chairman of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, and past president and chairman of the San Diego International Sports Council.

Purdon founded the nationally recognized Clean Marina Program San Diego, the YachtFest Mega Yacht Boat Show in San Diego and the annual Big Bay July 4th Fireworks Show that benefits the Armed Services YMCA.

Purdon has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and a Graduate Certificate from the University of California, San Diego in Urban Planning and Development. He is a former US Marine Corps officer and Vietnam Veteran.

Warren Rupf, 62, of Martinez, was a member of the Boating and Waterways Commission from 1997 to 2004 and has been appointed to an additional four-year term.

Rupf has served as the sheriff-coroner of Contra Costa County since 1992. He first joined the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department in 1965 as a deputy sheriff. Rupf served in the United States Marine Corps from 1961 to 1965. He is a graduate of the National Executive Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Rupf is active in many law enforcement and community service organizations including the National Sheriff Association's Marine and Water Safety Committee, the Governor's Task Force to Review Juvenile Crime and Juvenile Justice Response, and the California State Sheriff's Association. He has also served as the Vice Chair of Marine/Water Safety Committee for the National Sheriffs’ Association.

The Boating and Waterways Commission provides advice and consent for all small craft harbor loans and boat launching facility grants proposed by the Department of Boating and Waterways. For more information about the Boating and Waterways Commission, visit www.dbw.ca.gov. Photos of all commissioners are available at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/bwc.asp.

New DBW Weblogs Track Boating Facility Construction Projects

03/22/2006

SACRAMENTO – New DBW Internet Weblogs will track the progress of state-funded boating facility projects, affording the public first-time direct access to ongoing project improvement information. The new Facilities Project Blogs Webpage allows users to search for and track the status of boating facility construction projects along lakes, rivers, basins, marinas, and coastline throughout California.

“DBW funds about $50 million in boater access enhancements throughout the state each year using boating fuel taxes,” said Raynor Tsuneyoshi, DBW director. “Every loan or grant we issue for construction of boating facilities is done with boaters’ money and we want them to be able to see where it’s going and how it’s being used.”

Each project page contains the location and project description, grant amounts, anticipated completion dates, and contact information. The blogs list the current status of each project and any recent updates.

“While our records have always been open to anyone who is interested in seeing them,” Tsuneyoshi said, “this new website rolls out the red carpet and invites the public to follow the progress of every project we fund. We know boaters will discover that we are making the best possible use of their fuel tax dollars.”

The primary users of the new site are expected to be boaters looking for information about planned or ongoing improvements at a local boating facility, marina operators searching for new ideas, and contractors interested in newly funded work.

DBW grants money to public entities for construction of boat launching facilities and provides low interest loans to public and privately owned marinas for planning, construction, rehabilitation or expansion of small craft harbors. Breakwater construction, dredging, berthing, utilities, landscaping and irrigation, restrooms, fuel docks, boat sewage pumpout stations, and public access walkways at small craft harbors are examples of the improvements that can be funded by DBW grants.

The project blogs can be accessed on the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Website at www.dbw.ca.gov.

Westminster Resident Receives DBW Distinguished Public Service Award

03/16/2006

Larry Saumur, of Westminster, has been honored with the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Distinguished Public Service Award. He was selected to receive the award in recognition of his exceptional service to the boaters of Southern California as a leader in the U.S. Power Squadrons, District 13, Tres Rios Power Squadron.

“Larry Saumur has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the boating community,” said DBW director Raynor Tsuneyoshi. “California’s boaters are extremely fortunate to benefit from the efforts of all of the U.S. Power Squadron members such as Mr. Saumur who volunteer their time and knowledge toward increasing safety on the waterways.”

Over the course of 36 years, Saumur has earned 34 Merit Marks and Life Membership status in the U.S Power Squadrons. He has served as Squadron Commander twice and today is serving at all levels of the organization including Squadron Treasurer; Squadron Sail Race Chair; Chair of the Local Board of Piloting; Boating Class host and lecturer; and District Public Relations Officer. He is also a very active member of the National Marketing and Public Relations Committee, handling PR displays at national meetings.

During the many years Larry has served his squadron he has served as Squadron Secretary and Treasurer; Certified Vessel Safety Inspector; Editor of the Squadron News letter - “ The Fore ‘N’ Aft”; Squadron roster chair and publisher; and as the de facto Squadron historian.

Having retired from the Los Angeles County Fire Department after 39 years of service, Saumur keeps busy as Hollywood Yacht Club Commodore and as a member of the Association of San Pedro Bay Yacht Clubs and Seal Beach Yacht Club.

With 50,000 members, U.S. Power Squadrons is America's largest nonprofit boating organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects.

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DBW Awards Grant to City of Antioch

03/10/2006

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) today announced that the Antioch Marina will receive a $100,000 National Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG). The funds will be used to upgrade the Contra Costa County marina’s fueling system and replace an existing 100 foot long day use guest dock. The City of Antioch is contributing $34,000 to the marina’s project.

“California is very fortunate to obtain these federal funds for needed transient boating facilities. The proposed day-use docks at Antioch will help the city’s economy by allowing visiting boaters to recreate and enjoy the Antioch waterfront area,” said DBW Director Ray Tsuneyoshi. “California’s boating population is predicted to increase two percent per year over the next 20 years and funds are needed for boating infrastructure to keep up with that pace.”

BIG provides funds to states to install or upgrade visitor tie-up facilities for recreational boats 26 feet long or more. Each state selects a recipient of a $100,000 Tier I BIG grant provided by the federal government to improve recreational opportunities and safe harbors for transient boaters. Project categories eligible for the program include the renovation or construction of visitor docks, restrooms, gangways, and dockside utility hookups. The grant program is open to all marinas that provide public access.

DBW awards Tier I funds through a competitive process using the same point system as the federal government.

“Antioch Marina’s combination of a clear, concise presentation and the project’s demonstrated public benefit were the biggest factors in being selected for the grant,” said Kevin Atkinson, a DBW infrastructure grants administrator.

Roughly $4 million remains available nationally in Tier II BIG funding. Each state has collected and submitted applications for this program to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for scoring and ranking. The national awards will be announced in the Spring of 2006.

K-8 Students Honored Statewide for Boating Safety Artwork

02/16/2006

The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has honored ten California students whose artwork won the 2006 “Safe and Wise Water Ways” poster contest. The students, from grades K-8, each received two $100 education savings bonds and a commemorative medallion, and their artistic creations are featured on the 2006 “Safe and Wise Water Ways” calendar. The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) sponsors the annual contest to help educate young people on water safety.

“These students have illustrated boating safety lessons that are important for all Californians to learn, especially young people,” said DBW Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi. “Water-related incidents are the second leading cause of accidental death among people ages 4 to 19. We believe that safety lessons learned and practiced early stick with people throughout their lives.”

The winning artwork was selected from more than 2,400 entries. They were judged on a combination of theme execution and merit by a panel of judges including DBW staff, members of the media, representatives from the Department of Health Services, the Department of Water Resources, Sacramento Metro Fire Department, UC Davis Medical Center Partners in Prevention and Sacramento State Media Services.

The awards were presented by DBW during assemblies at each winner’s school. As winners’ entire classes submitted entries, each student in the class was given an achievement button and a copy of the calendar. Every winner’s teacher received a gift certificate to purchase educational materials for the classroom. Attendees at every assembly were also treated to the award-winning AquaSMART Live! puppet show and an interactive life jacket demonstration.

The contest is a classroom project designed around themes such as “wear a life jacket,” “keep our waterways clean,” “learn to rescue safely,” and “alcohol, drugs and boating don’t mix!” These messages echo concepts taught in the AquaSMART program materials available to educators for classroom use.

The lessons meet the California curriculum standards and are available for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. High school students are served by the AquaSMART Boating program for grades 9-12. Each year, the program reaches 350,000 students with messages about staying safe on and near waterways.

The winning artists are:
Kindergarten: Debbie Nitura, Taylor Skills Elementary in Stockton.
First Grade: Felix Diaz-Ocampo, Manuel Real Elementary in Perris.
Second Grade: Mai Nguyen, Trinity Lutheran School in Fairfield.
Third Grade: Lily Goff, City of Angels in Sherman Oaks.
Fourth Grade: Tenley Griffin, Fort Washington Elementary in Fresno.
Fifth Grade: Ty Adibi, Flying Hills Elementary in El Cajon.
Sixth Grade: Andriana Ricchiuti, Fort Washington Elementary in Fresno.
Seventh Grade: Alexandria Ayers, Beardsley Junior High in Bakersfield.
Eighth Grade: Mikaela McLeish, Muirlands Middle in La Jolla.
Honorable Mention: Jaime Fernandez, Calvert Street Elementary in Woodland Hills.
Honorable Mention: Jared Shen, Forest Park Elementary in Fremont.

The “Safe & Wise Water Ways” contest was awarded the 2003 National Boating Education Advancement Award by the National Safe Boating Council at the 2003 International Boating and Water Safety Summit. Sponsors include Kawasaki, Yamaha, Radio Disney, the Southern California Marine Association and the Northern California Marine Association. For information about entering the contest next year, visit www.BoatSmarter.com. The winning pictures and the poster are available to download at http://dbw.ca.gov/PosterContest/.

Delta Waterways Reopen to Recreational Boating After Round of Winter Storms

01/04/2006

SACRAMENTO - DBW today reopened the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta waterways to recreational boating due to reduced water levels and less floating debris, effective 10:30 a.m. The closure was issued on Dec. 31, 2005 , during heavy winter storms and was to expire at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006 , but monitoring revealed that an extra day was not necessary to protect the levees.

"Water levels throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta system have tapered off enough that boat traffic no longer poses a threat of overtopping levees." said Deputy Director of DBW David Johnson. "While our first concern is public safety, we are aware that access to the waterways is important to the people and communities who rely on it, and we make sure to open the waterways as soon as it is safe to do so."

As levees are still saturated, boaters should monitor the size of their wakes and operate at a safe speed both for the boat and for the levees.

DBW is authorized to restrict or ban recreational boating in the Sacramento-San Joaquin during periods of high water levels to protect people and property, facilitate flood fighting, and control vessel wakes that may lead to overtopping of levees.

The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW), the state's boating agency, promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments.