California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications to help local public entities enhance safety on California’s waterways and protect them from abandoned and unwanted vessels. The application period for the competitive grant programs, Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment (BSEE) and Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE), is open from March 15 through April 28, 2023. Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in an applicant workshop.
“It’s important to make boating a safe experience for all Californians and to protect our environment at the same time,” said DBW’s Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “Supporting local public entities to enhance public safety and remove abandoned vessels will create a more positive experience for the more than four million motorized and non-motorized recreational boaters on California’s waterways.”
In 2022, DBW awarded 21 BSEE grants totaling $1.5 million and 26 SAVE grants totaling $2.75 million. This year, a total of $4.25 million in grant funding is available to eligible applicants.
Below are descriptions of the grant programs and available funding:
BSEE Grant Program
Up to $1.5 million is available to local government agencies that demonstrate a need for patrol boats, engines, personal watercraft, search and rescue equipment, and patrol and diving equipment. These competitive grants are to augment existing local resources and not to fully fund boating safety and enforcement patrol units. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety Program provides BSEE grant funding.
SAVE Grant Program
Up to $2.75 million is available to local public agencies statewide to receive surrendered recreational vessels and to remove and dispose of derelict recreational vessels on coastal and inland public waterways. Grant funding comes from the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund. DBW awards grants on a competitive basis.
Applications for both grant programs must be submitted to DBW through the Online Grant Application System (OLGA). Prior to applying, the division encourages new applicants to view a 45-minute webinar that provides detailed instructions on creating an account in OLGA as well as navigating the application system. Additionally, DBW is hosting a 45-minute virtual workshop for each grant program to help applicants write competitive applications.
Below is detailed information on the workshops:
BSEE Workshop
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Location: Virtual Webinar
RSVP: Johanna Naughton via Johanna.Naughton@parks.ca.gov or (916) 902-8795.
SAVE Workshop
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Location: Virtual Webinar
RSVP: Ron Kent via Ron.Kent@parks.ca.gov or (916) 902-8821.
The workshops will be recorded for those unable to participate in the live presentations. Please see the contacts above for any questions about the workshops.
Once grant applications have been reviewed and scored, DBW will send out notice of award letters via OLGA. DBW anticipates that awards will be announced in August 2023. Detailed information, including previous grant recipients, is available on DBW’s website.
