From the Boathouse: Lots of ways to keep shores and waterways clean

Ahoy!

Did you know that Saturday is California Coastal Cleanup Day? Well, this will be your very short notice that you can participate in this annual event at five locations in our area.

This is known as the largest volunteer event in the state. Nearly 67,000 people participated last September.

Additionally, more than 1 million pounds of trash were collected and disposed of properly in the state. Of course, you can do your share every day by picking up any trash you notice in our waterways or along the shore.

For more information and to register, go to https://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html.

The five locations in our area are the base of the Balboa Pier; Corona del Mar State Beach; ExlorOcean on the Balboa Peninsula; the Muth Interpretive Center in Upper Newport Bay; and the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Keep in mind that each location is limited to only 100 volunteers, so your first choice might be full already. If you miss this year, then plan to join in next September.

While on the topic of cleanup, the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways has published “When Nature Calls.” This is a sewage management guide for recreational boaters to help them properly dispose of the waste aboard their vessels.

California is home to more than 4 million recreational boaters, though not every boat has a head and a holding tank. The guide is intended for those boats equipped with a head or holding tank that can discharge directly into the waterways.

The guide is well done and explains in simple language the three different types of marine sanitation devices. Additionally, the guide details how to use a pump-out station and is loaded with information that boaters should know before they leave the dock.

Remember, it is against law to discharge sewage within three nautical miles of the coastline and in a harbor, lake, river, delta or similar bodies of water.

Now, before I get a flood of emails, there are some exceptions if your boat is equipped with a Type I or Type II sanitation device, but the best practice is not to discharge any sewage from your vessel while floating in any of the state’s waterways.

You can always do what I do and call a mobile pump-out service. Pump-outs are easy to work also.

Just remember to be responsible with the sewage aboard your vessel.

You can view and print the “When Nature Calls” guide at dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/when_nature_calls_FINAL_REV_for_web.pdf, or contact the environmental boating program coordinator, Vivian Matuk, at [email protected] or (415) 904-6905.

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Tip of the week:

Visit the 37th Lido Boat Show opened Thursday at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach.

You have this weekend to tour California’s all-big-boat boat show, which is redefining marine luxury. Additionally, plan a little extra time to tour the schooner America, which is a full-size replica of the 19th century racing yacht. In 1851, the America won the first America’s Cup international sailing trophy.

The show is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.

An extra tip of the week is to utilize the free shuttle service with free parking at the Hoag Health Center, at 520 Superior Ave. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes from the center’s parking structure to the show’s front entrance.

For more information, visit LidoYachtExpo.com. See you at the show.

As always, just keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Please be boat smart and boat safe. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.

The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See the details at boathousetv.com, facebook.com/boathouseradio and twitter.com/boathouseradio.

Safe Voyages!

MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to boathousetv.com.

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