Three State Parks
Certified by Maryland Clean Marina Program
ANNAPOLIS – The
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce that
Cunningham Falls State Park Boat Ramp in Thurmont (Frederick County) and
Ft. Frederick State Park Boat Ramp in Big Pool (Washington County) have
been certified as the newest Clean Marina Partners. Additionally, the
marina at Sandy Point State Park (Anne Arundel County) has been certified
as the newest Clean Marina.
The Clean Marina designation indicates that Park staff minimize pollution
from their own operations and actively promote clean boating habits to
ramp users. The Clean Marina Partner designation was created for smaller
boating facilities, such as State Park boat ramps, that are not true
marinas, but meet the goals of the program through outreach and education
of visitors.
For example, signs and posters that detail clean boating practices are
posted at each facility. In addition to educating ramp users about how to
minimize their environmental impacts, the Parks minimize their own waste
and implement rules to protect the adjacent waterways. At Ft. Frederick
and Cunningham Falls State Parks, rules allow only electric motors or
non-motorized boats to be used on the waterway. At Sandy Point’s busy fuel
dock, extra steps are taken with each customer to minimize environmental
and safety risks.
DNR’s Clean Marina Initiative promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption
of measures to reduce pollution from recreational boating activities.
Operators of marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs qualify for Clean Marina
certification by adopting measures to control pollution associated with
vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage
disposal; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; stormwater runoff; and
facilities management, as applicable. The Clean Marina Partner designation
was created to recognize boating facilities–other than marinas, boatyards,
and yacht clubs–that are implementing pollution prevention measures.
The goal of the Clean Marina Initiative is to certify 25 percent of
Maryland’s approximately 600 boating facilities as Clean Marinas or Clean
Marina. To date 188 boating facilities have taken the first step and
signed the Clean Marina Pledge. Of these, 102 have become certified as
either Clean Marinas or Clean Marina Partners.
For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, call the
Department of Natural Resources at (877) 620-8DNR, ext. 8770, or check
DNR’s website at
www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating.