Applications are now available for the BoatU.S. Foundation’s Clean Water Grants Program.Grants are available to small, nonprofit organizations and groups around the country to fund projects that promote environmentally friendly boating practices. The deadline to apply is February 2, 2009.

For 12 years, the Foundation has been awarding grants to fund projects that promote clean boating on local waterways. Grantees can receive up to $4000 each to fund innovative projects addressing clean water issues specific to their local waterways. Past projects have included traditional methods such as clean boating literature and signage as well as less common projects including waterway clean-ups, invasive species ID cards and radio, TV and movie theater PSAs.

The is no focus topic for 2009 so this is your chance to get really creative and send us your most innovative project ideas. The emphasis for these grants is always the use of positive messaging to reach boaters. Projects on any topic will be accepted and all projects will be given equal consideration.

Grant guidelines, information, and applications are available here. The grants will be awarded in late April 2009.

Russ Robinson, a long-time San Francisco Bay sailor with an eye for identifying challenges with recreational boating and waterway ecology, has been named winner of the BoatU.S. Foundation Environmental Leadership Award for 2008. “ Russ’s efforts have impacted every boater in California, and possibly even those beyond the state’s borders,” said BoatU.S. Foundation Director of Environmental Programs Susan Shingledecker.

Competing for this year’s award were 30 other nominees, including marina operators, government employees and boating industry leaders. In addition to Robinson’s award, the BoatU.S. Foundation honored 10 of these nominees with Environmental Commendations for their extraordinary environmental efforts, including the development of annual waterway clean up events, clean marina and oil spill prevention programs.

To read more about Russ Robinson and the ten other nominees awarded Environmental Leadership Commendations, click here.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water sponsors the Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids which makes children’s life jackets available to boaters who are unprepared for visiting children or whose kids have outgrown their old life jackets. Over 350 locations nationwide loan kid-sized life jackets on a daily basis, free of charge.

Each year the need for life jackets outgrows the number that the BoatUS Foundation has available to loan. Our program goal is to raise $50,000 by this spring to meet this need – we’re counting on you!

For as little as $10, your tax-deductible contribution will fund the purchase of a child’s life jacket – or for $250, your gift will buy enough supplies to establish a new life jacket loaner location. We need your help to make boating safer for children.

Your contribution of any amount will make a difference to some small child. Consider making a fully tax-deductible donation today to keep our program afloat.

Photo above: courtesy HRM

Recycle your fishing line with the BoatUS Foundation! Did you know that it takes over 500 years for monofilament fishing line to decompose? Meanwhile, that discarded line can tangle itself around your boat prop or worse yet, marine life. To help keep line out of the environment, the BoatUS Foundation would like to partner with you and your local fishing or boating group to install a monofilament recycling bin at your favorite fishing spot, launch ramp or marina.

We will provide you with a FREE pre-made PVC monofilament bin and signage suitable for mounting outdoors. All we ask in return is that you monitor the bin, empty it when full, send the collected line to Berkley for recycling and let us know how much line you collected and returned. How easy is that? For more information, click here. Don’t delay we have a limited number of bins, and bin locations will be determined by geographic area and demonstrated demand for monofilament recycling.