negative impacts on the marine environment," 

 Lopazanski says. 



Current Clean Marina operations, he adds, 

 are models for other operators and boaters. 



SHOW AND TELL 



In some coastal states — including Texas, 

 New York and Florida — Sea Grant programs are 

 the lead agencies for the Clean Marina program. 

 Here. North Carolina Sea Grant is playing a sup- 

 port role. Barbara Doll, Sea Grant water quality 

 specialist, is working with Bill Hunt from North 

 Carolina State University to develop a Clean 

 Marina demonstration site to highlight a number 

 of best management practices. 



"Hopefully, things will get rolling by the 

 early fall," Doll says. "We also will conduct work- 

 shops to help marina operators learn how to design 

 water protection measures into a marina project." 



Walter Clark, Sea Grant coastal community 

 and policy specialist, is working on a project that 

 could have broader implications. 



"I am working with Gloria Putnam from the 

 N.C. Coastal Nonpoint Source Program to look at 

 the state's marina policy — from the very defini- 

 tion of marina to the complex permit process." 



The marina development process begins 

 with a permit application to DCM, but it involves 

 14 other state and federal agencies, each with 

 various mandates and objectives when it comes to 

 marinas, Clark says. 



Often, just the legal definition of a marina 

 can cause confusion. A marina is defined by 

 DCM as any publicly or privately owned dock, 

 basin or wet boat storage facility constructed to 

 accommodate more than 10 boats, and provid- 

 ing any of the following services: permanent or 

 transient docking spaces, dry storage, fueling 

 facilities, haulout facilities and repair services. 



"We hope to examine the process and 

 develop recommendations that would clarify the 

 state's marina permit and management process 

 while protecting our natural resources," Clark 

 says. 



Now is a good time to take a long look at 



marina policies, Lopazanski says. 



'The number of applications for marina 

 permits has held at a steady 10 to 1 5 each year. 

 However, we also have seen a large number of 

 'nonmarinas' — multislip docking facilities with 

 less than 10 slips," he says. 



"This is where you get into questions 

 regarding what has the least environmental impact 



— individual docks associated with single family 

 houses or community marina/docks that serve a 

 larger residential area." 



The heart of the issue is considering the cu- 

 mulative environmental impacts of any proposed 

 marina. 



"The demonstration project," Lopazanski 

 adds, "will show how upfront planning can go a 

 long way towards the protection of coastal water 

 quality." 



PRIDE AND PRACTICE 



For his part. Bob Deaton says he feels great 

 to have been the first Clean Marina in the state 



— a fact noted with pride on the company Web 

 site. 



"When we received the checklist, I looked at 

 it and realized that we were almost there," he says. 

 "We set a goal that was easy to achieve without a 

 lot of extra effort and expense. We already were 

 doing our best to protect the water as a matter of 

 company policy." 



Deaton chats as he heads toward the haul-out 

 ramp at the end of the dock. He wants to check 

 the status of emergency repairs on a boat that ran 

 aground overnight at low tide. 



Deaton Yacht Service is a TowBoat US 

 provider, covering the region from the Neuse 

 River to Ocracoke. 



"We're like AAA only on the water. It can 

 get pretty exciting," he says. "Last week, a fishing 

 boat strayed into the military bombing range. The 

 Coast Guard removed the people according to the 

 rules. And we towed the boat out of the restricted 

 area. It could be dangerous considering there are 

 some unexploded bombs on the bottom of the 

 sound." 



Deaton stops to give a progress update to Pat 

 Webster, who sailed from Manteo to have work 

 done on her hurricane-damaged boat. Warrior 

 Woman. 



"I had to wait for a break in the weather to 

 sail," Webster explains. The work will take several 

 weeks to complete. She and her black lab will live 

 on board for the duration. But she doesn't mind. 



"I feel safe and I love this marina — and 

 Oriental," she adds. 



Down the line, dock repair is in progress. 

 With timbers pulled away, a backhoe scoops dirt 

 and loads it onto the bed of a dump truck. The 

 goal is to prevent sediment from escaping into the 

 water. "It's all about reducing impact," Deaton 

 says. 



He points out other Clean Marina practices 

 that protect the water: grass buffers to catch run 

 off from the paved areas; a vacuum system for 

 dust generated by sanding; tarps under hauled out 

 boats; a pump-out station and sewage holding 

 tank for boaters; waste oil containment tank; 

 barrels for used paint products; a parts wash col- 

 lection center. 



A licensed waste-management company 

 collects all hazardous products for disposal, he 

 explains. 



"Water is our lifeline. It's to our advantage 

 to be the best environmental stewards possible. 

 It's just good for business and it's good for fish," 

 Deaton insists. 



ATTTLUDEISKEY 



A fierce spring windstorm shredded the 

 Clean Marina flag at Town Creek Marina in 

 Beaufort. Owner-operator Chuck Tulevech was 

 quick to call DCM for a replacement. He's proud 

 to display the flag that lets customers know that 

 his business exceeds required measures to protect 

 the environment. 



"Our clients tend to be more conscious than 

 ever before, and they don't mind adhering to our 

 strict rules," Tulevech says. "Attitude and educa- 

 tion are key." 



His four-acre marina straddles Town Creek 



18 HIGH SEASON 2004 



