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Eco-Friendly Systems At Work in Port of San Diego Marinas

Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

Efforts to reduce pollution and keep hazardous waste out of San Diego Bay are underway at four marinas thanks to projects funded by the Port of San Diego's environmental fund.

Two used oil-recycling centers have been installed and four marine trash skimmers are up and running at marinas from Shelter Island to National City.

The trash skimmers were installed at four marinas in December 2009: Half-Moon Marina, located at the northeast end of the Shelter Island Channel; Harbor Island West Marina; Point Loma Marina and Pier 32 Marina in National City.

The skimmers, work similar to a pool skimmer, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, filtering 500 gallons of water per minute. Trash is trapped inside and the debris can then be separated and disposed of or recycled. Already, marina managers are impressed.

"Half-Moon Marina has always had trash and debris pushed towards it due to tides and the prevailing winds. Because of this, we were cleaning the water three to five times a week by boat," said Brad Oliver, marina manager of Half-Moon Marina. "We continue to be amazed by the skimmer. Since the installation, we have removed more than 1,600 gallons of trash and debris! Many of our tenants have noticed a big difference in how much cleaner the water has been and how well the skimmer works. It was especially most noticeable after the recent storms."

Greg Boeh, marina manager at Pier 32, first suggested the idea of the trash skimmers.

"I heard about a trash skimmer manufactured by Bellingham Marine. I called them up and suggested a test run for 90 days. A few days after it was running, I was so impressed, I contacted the Port's environmental services department," Boeh said.

He collaborated with marine scientist Michelle Bowman of AMEC Earth & Environmental, one of the Port's partners in environmental services. Boeh and Bowman worked together and were awarded 74,380, while providing $24,800 in matching funds for the project, made available by the Port's environmental fund.

"An oil-absorbing pad placed on top helps eliminate extra oil washed into the bay from the storm drains," Boeh said. "Imagine if you have 20 or 30 of them throughout the bay! It's something really positive for the region."

Bowman conducts quarterly water quality monitoring and the staff logs all the trash that is collected. At the end of the year, they will compile a complete report.

"Marine debris is a huge issue right now and I think anything you can do to help get rid of it, before at least it gets out into the ocean, is a benefit to everybody as well as the environment," Bowman said.

Used Oil Recycling Centers

The Port's environmental fund also paid for used oil recycling centers at Pier 32 Marina and Harbor Island West Marina. Installed in January 2009, at a cost of $40,000, the centers collect everything from oil, filters and bilge pads.

"The presence of the used oil center provides convenient recycling for boaters, prevents the marinas from having to dispose of costly hazardous waste, prevents oil from being dumped into the bay and encourages boaters and marina staff to use other best management practices," said Bowman. "We just had 300 gallons of oil collected and hauled away, cleanly, as opposed to being left behind for the marina to clean up."

Pier 32 also built an enclosure to collect used batteries and established the first boater paint exchange.

"If you're a boater, we encourage you to store it in our locker. When you're ready to use it. It's a community storage and use. It's kept away from the water and won't spill into the water. People really like it," said Boeh.

Bowman got the idea for the recycling centers through the Clean Marinas California Program – a group of marina managers and owners and yacht club owners that started in San Diego six years ago.

"They started regulating each other based upon a list of best management criteria that they compiled from numerous clean marina programs across the nation," Bowman said.

"I think as a marina operator, I need a clean facility and good customer services. It behooves me to go above and beyond to the best of my ability to keep it pristine," said Boeh.

"The Port is very proud to help fund any project that goes 'above and beyond compliance' and improve the water quality of San Diego Bay," said David Merk, Director of the Port of San Diego's Environmental Services Department. "Since the environmental fund's creation in 2006, $5.9 million has been allocated for over 50 projects."

San Diego Bay is home to 26 marinas and yacht clubs with just over 8,000 boat slips.

The Port of San Diego was created in 1962 to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach, National City, Chula Vista, San Diego and Coronado waterfront properties.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 17 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.