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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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