Marinas and Recreational Boating

Marinas are located right at the water's edge, and if no measures are taken to reduce pollutants, or there are no buffers present to treat or retain them, pollutants can be transported via runoff from parking lots and hull maintenance areas into the marina basin.  Connecticut DEP has developed a Clean Marina Program and a Clean Boater Program to comprehensively address the protection of habitat and water quality relative to marina and recreational boating activities.  All of the following key concepts are incorporated into Connecticut's Clean Marina and Clean Boater Programs.

Key Concepts

• Educate boaters and marina operators about all aspects of boating and marina use.

• Design and locate marinas to maximize basin flushing, maintain water quality, and protect shellfish, wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation, and other important habitat.

• Stabilize shorelines with vegetation rather than structures like seawalls.

• Control stormwater runoff from marinas, especially hull maintenance areas, so at least 80 percent of total suspended solids are removed from stormwater.

• Properly store, transfer, contain, and dispose of liquid materials used in boat maintenance, and recycle those materials whenever possible.

• Minimize the use of potentially harmful hull cleaners and bottom paints.

• Properly dispose of any solid wastes produced in operating, cleaning, maintaining, and repairing boats.

• Design and locate marina fueling stations to effectively contain accidental spills.

• Reduce the amount of fuel and oil leakage from fuel tank air vents during refueling.

• Install and maintain boat pumpout and restroom facilities.

• Properly manage fish wastes.

• Prevent increased turbidity and physical destruction of shallow water habitat from boating activities.

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