Apply Now for CA CVA Education and Outreach Grants

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications for the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Education and Outreach Grant Program. A maximum of $280,031 of federal funding per targeted region is available to organizations for educating coastal and San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary recreational boaters about proper vessel sewage disposal and the use of pumpout facilities and monitoring pumpout and dump stations.

In 1992, Congress passed the CVA to help reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges into U.S. waters. The grant program serves as an important educational opportunity for all boaters on how to help keep California’s waterways clean. Discharging sewage overboard creates environmental and human health problems. To reduce the negative impacts of this harmful action, all recreational boaters are encouraged to use sewage management facilities, including pumpout stations, dump stations and mobile pumpout services.

The grant program targets two geographic regions of California:

• San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary Counties of: Alameda Contra Costa Marin Monterey Napa Sacramento San Francisco San Joaquin
• Southern California Coast Counties of: Los Angeles Orange San Diego San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Clara Santa Cruz Solano Sonoma Santa Barbara Ventura

Proposals that cover a portion of the above regions will be considered if, over time, the agency can expand program(s) to the entire region.

As part of DBW’s commitment to provide clean, safe and enjoyable recreational boating in California, the Division serves as the state CVA grant coordinator. DBW will fund two grants (one for each targeted California geographic region) to develop and implement a 12-month Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Program. Each regional grant must include education and outreach efforts, and a pumpout/dump station monitoring program. Applications will be evaluated and ranked according to how each application proposal demonstrates comprehensive and proven methods for meeting grant program goals. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, August 9, 2024, by 10 a.m.

The CVA Education and Outreach Program grants are funded by the Division of Boating and Waterways with funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. For detailed information on the grant program, the current grant application, requirements, and a complete guidelines packet, please visit DBW’s website at dbw.parks.ca.gov/CleanVesselActGrants.