DBW to host clean boating meeting in NorCal

RICHMOND — California’s Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) will be hosting a clean boating meeting at Richmond Yacht Club on Dec. 4. Southern California boaters who would happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area during the first full week of December are encouraged to attend the meeting, which is put on by DBW and the California Clean Boating Network. The meeting is free and runs from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Those who are unable to make the trek to Richmond could perhaps campaign DBW staff to host a similar meeting in Southern California; contact info will be provided at the end of this article.

The Dec. 4 meeting will specifically cover the effects of sea level rise on boaters and marinas. Information about the new copper-based paint and coating regulations, as they pertain to recreational boaters, would also be provided.

Attendees will specifically be given an update on California’s Statewide Clean Boating Program. Information will also be provided for those who want to become involved with the program in 2019.

Reinhard Flick, a research associate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Center for Coastal Studies, will talk about predicted sea level rise and the phenomenon’s potential effects on marinas, coastal access and other boating infrastructure.

“The range of future sea level projections prepared as part of California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment of 2018 will be shown. Illustrations of how sea level rise will increase the frequency and severity of extreme events later this century and how this may influence coastal marinas will follow,” a notice of the Dec. 4 meeting stated. “ [A] brief discussion of strong impacts that related changes will have on inland marinas will close the presentation.”

Also on the agenda is a session entitled, “Copper Antifouling Paints in California: Everything the Recreational Boater Needs to Know.” Aniela Burant of California’s Dept. of Pesticide Regulation will lead the session, which will focus on new copper-paint regulations for boaters. The new copper-based paint and coating regulations, which places a cap on copper leach rates from antifouling paints, went into effect on July 1.

“Information on the background of the regulation, types of vessels affected, and details on existing stock will be presented. The presentation will conclude with ample time for questions and answers to clear up any confusion surrounding the new regulation,” DBW staff stated in the Dec. 4 meeting notice.

A team from the San Francisco Estuary Partnership will discuss pumpouts and sewage. The team will talk about a mobile application for pumpouts. A report on statewide pumpout data will also be presented.

Contact Vivian Matuk of the California Coastal Commission at vmatuk@coastal.ca.gov for more information about the Dec. 4 meeting in Richmond and whether a future session could be held in Los Angeles or San Diego.

Richmond YC is located at 351 Brickyard Cove Road in Richmond; parking, for those who make it up to the meeting, is free.