| Marina Program
Marina Billboard
2005
|
MARINA PROGRAM:
PHASE I: LAKE TAHOE AND FALLEN LEAF
Lake Tahoe depends upon a fragile balance between the natural environment
and human stewardship. It holds 123 million acre-feet of water,
twice as much as all other California lakes combined. With only
the Truckee River as an outlet, and water replacement so slow that
a single drop remains in the lake for more than 700 years, pollutants
that have entered the lake almost never leave. The lake has been
losing its clarity at the alarming rate of one foot per year.
Fallen
Leaf Lake (in the foreground) & Lake Tahoe (in the background) |
The widespread concern over the degradation of the
lake led to a presidential forum in 1996 that prompted new and expanded
efforts to protect the Lake's ecosystem. The County of El Dorado
responded by taking the lead in a comprehensive Marina Program to
educate the boaters using Lake Tahoe and nearby Fallen Leaf Lake
about proper bilge oil control. Outreach events were held at 17
of the 19 public access marinas each summer over a four-year implementation
period. This innovative program has served as a state and nationwide
model for marina education.
Lake Tahoe |
The environmentally responsible and cost effective
management of used oil provided by this program, along with increased
public and boater awareness, are vital to protecting this very special
environment. Without a program focusing on lake ecosystems, the
impact of illegal disposal of oil from poorly maintained watercraft
and oily bilge water discharge would continue. Boat owners would
not be aware of the consequences of their actions and would not
have the means to effectively manage disposal. As a result the negative
impact on the aquatic environment would continue and the clarity
of Lake Tahoe would continue to diminish.
Numerous public and private entities worked together
with EMD on this project to preserve and enhance the area's natural
beauty. The program has been very successful, as evidenced by the
changes in the attitudes of boaters over time. The following chart
illustrates those changes as a percentage of total responses to
a question asked of boaters about how they deal with oil in their
bilge.
How
the Marina Program has Changed the Attitudes of Boaters
|
The first group of bars indicates that over the seven-year
survey period, the percentage of boaters who did nothing when they
observed oil in their bilge decreased from nine (9%) to two (2%).
Similarly, those who let the automatic bilge pump send the oil out
to the lake, reduced from six (6%) to one (1%). Those using emulsifiers
to disperse the oil throughout the water column, declined from ten
(10%) to seven (7%). Conversely, those using absorbent materials
to properly remove the oil increased from twenty-one (21%) to forty
(40%). These results indicate that education, outreach and increased
opportunity to control bilge oil are effective in improving public
perception and participation. This project is one of key steps toward
reversing the damage that has been done and preserving this national
treasure.
PHASE II: JENKINSON,
FOLSOM AND ECHO LAKES
Lake
Jenkinson |
In 1999, EMD’s Marina Program was expanded
to include Jenkinson, Folsom and Echo Lakes. Again, the main focus
of the program is to provide boat owners with use oil absorbent
and convenient disposal facilities. Absorbent pillows are placed
around the engine of the boat to absorb oil and gasoline, which
can leak into the bilge water. The oil absorbent pads are used to
keep gasoline out the lakes during fueling. To see an illustration
of proper pad and pillow use please [click
here].
Oil absorbent pads and pillows are distributed
to boaters in a kit, which also includes a bucket, a floating key
chain, towel, and a safety ski flag bearing the program logo. In
exchange for receiving the kit, boaters are asked to complete the
survey questionnaire first employed during the Tahoe program. Once
the absorbant becomes saturated it can be returned to the marina
or a HHW facility for proper disposal. For a complete list of marinas
collecting used absorbent for proper disposal [click
here]. The staffed marinas will provide new pads and pillows
upon request.
PHASE III: ICE HOUSE
AND UNION VALLEY RESERVIORS
In 2004, the program was expanded to include the lakes of the Crystal
Basin Recreation Area, Ice House and Union Valley. Of the El Dorado
County lakes that receive significant powerboat use, Ice House and
Union Valley are the last two to be included in the program. The
boat launch areas are un-staffed requiring a self-serve method of
used absorbant disposal. To accommodate this need, hazmat storage
units with drop slots were installed. The EMD staff regularly monitor
these units to ensure they are being used properly.
Union
Valley Reservoir |
|
