LopezRocks - Item

A new sewage pumpout boat is providing free service to recreational boaters in the San Juan Islands. The Port of Lopez received a grant in 2021 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to build an electric powered pumpout vessel. A separate grant from the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program is supporting the operations and maintenance of the vessel, along with financial backing from the Port.

Named "Blackwater," the vessel has already provided several pumpouts despite only being in service since mid-August.

"We're thrilled to assist the Port in establishing this new service and hope to see others like it in the region," said Catherine Buchalski Smith, Clean Vessel Act Grant Program manager. â€œThe Port of Lopez looks forward to providing a service that will help to protect the surrounding waters of Lopez Island and the Salish Sea. We are very grateful to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Washington Clean Vessel Act Grant Program for making it possible to purchase and operate this vessel."

Pumpout services are free to recreational vessels, but boaters must call to make an appointment ahead of time. Boaters can request a pumpout appointment by email ([email protected]), phone at (360) 504-7982, or by hailing VHF channel 78.

In addition to funding the construction and ongoing operation of pumpout and dump stations across the state, the Clean Vessel Act Grant Program funds Pumpout Washington - a boater education initiative managed by Washington Sea Grant. Introducing new boaters on how and where to pumpout their boatâ€™s holding tank is the key to maintaining local water quality.

Washington Sea Grant provides educational outreach to boaters on marina docks during summer months and provides boaters with a variety of helpful tools, such as the free pumpout adapter and a new video on the Pumpout Washington website demonstrating how to use the more than 140 free public pumpout facilities in the state. A free mobile phone app, PumpoutNav, is another popular tool helping boaters locate the nearest pumpout or dump station, from Washington to California.

About the Washington State Clean Vessel Act

Grant Program The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission administers the stateâ€™s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant Program, which provides funding for the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of sewage disposal systems serving recreational boaters and educational programs that inform boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal. Funding comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through a nationally competitive process administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information about the CVA program, contact Catherine Buchalski Smith, (360) 902-8659 or [email protected]

About Washington Sea Grant

Washington Sea Grant is based within the College of the Environment at the University of Washington and helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. The National Sea Grant College Program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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For a pumpout call 360-504-7982 or email [email protected]

When the boat is operating call "Blackwater" on channel 78.