PHOTO COURTESY CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS’ DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYSCalifornia State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways is accepting grant applications for its Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment program and Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange. The application process is open from March 11 through April 28.
“It’s important to make boating a safe experience for all Californians and to protect our environment at the same time,” Ramona Fernandez, DBW deputy director, said in a statement. “Supporting local public entities to enhance public safety and remove abandoned vessels will create a more positive experience for the more than four million motorized and non-motorized recreational boaters on California’s waterways.”
In 2022, DBW awarded 21 BSEE grants totaling $1.5 million and 26 SAVE grants totaling $2.75 million. This year, $4.25 million in grant funding is available.
In the BSEE grant program, up to $1.5 million is available to local government agencies that demonstrate a need for patrol boats, engines, personal watercraft, search and rescue equipment and diving gear. The grants augment existing local resources but don’t fully fund boating safety and enforcement programs. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety Program provides BSEE grant funding.
In the SAVE grant program, up to $2.75 million is available to agencies statewide to receive surrendered recreational vessels and to remove and dispose of derelict recreational vessels on coastal and inland public waterways. Grant funding comes from the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund.
Applications for both grant programs must be submitted online. Prior to applying, the division encourages new applicants to view a 45-minute webinar.
The BSEE webinar is March 28 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. PST. Contact Johanna Naughton at Johanna.Naughton@parks.ca.gov or 916-902-8795.
The SAVE webinar is the same date and time. Contact Ron Kent at Ron.Kent@parks.ca.gov, 916-902-8821.
