Cleaner Coastal Waterways Coming Soon

Last fall, the BoatU.S. Foundation put out a call for grant proposals to remove abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) from U.S. coastal waterways, including the Great Lakes, tribal lands, and U.S. territories. The response from communities, nonprofits, and states was impressive! All told, the Foundation received 97 letters of intent (abbreviated proposals). Of those invited to submit formal proposals, 53 applications were received. The total funding requested in those proposals totaled around $25 million.

“The number of applications we received reinforced how concerning the ADV problem is,” said Alanna Keating, BoatU.S. Foundation’s director of outreach. “The submission period was open for two months. If it were open longer, we would have easily had over $100 million in funding requests. The need is there. The challenges for funding are there.”

Ten projects were ultimately selected for funding. Altogether, they have a value of more than $10 million between grant funds and in-kind matching.

The grant awardees were selected by a panel of five volunteer grant reviewers in addition to Foundation staff. The panel was comprised of representatives from NOAA, the salvage industry, boater representation, and nonprofit conservation. Proposals were scored on a variety of criteria including whether the applicant had previous experience with ADV removals, the ADVs were in a sensitive marine area, there was community-level support and engagement, how much debris could be recycled, plans for post-removal monitoring and prevention, and more. Funding for the grants came from the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

The selected removal projects are all located in communities that have demonstrated substantial need. According to Keating, ADVs are more prevalent in these areas because “they don’t have the money and means to remove ADVs before they become a bigger problem.” Additionally, she points out, abandonment is more likely where disposal is less feasible, especially in rural and remote areas like Alaskan tribal lands. “Boats are critical for their transportation, sustenance, and livelihoods,” she adds.

Removal efforts will begin once grantees finish navigating the environmental compliance and permitting phase with NOAA. Start dates depend on each locality. “Alaska has a short window of opportunity, but Louisiana’s weather allows them to work throughout the cooler months,” said Keating. All projects will be completed by June 2027.

Some removals will be selected for documentation and press events to discuss the ADV problem, the work being done to tackle it, and solutions for prevention. “All projects have a prevention component so ADVs don’t reaccumulate,” said Keating. “Throughout this process, we’re looking for innovative solutions and best practices as well as ways for replicating the successes in other communities.”

Let’s learn a little more about each of the projects.

Alaska

Metlakatla Indian Community: The MIC Annette Islands Reserve lies in the southernmost portion of the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska and is only accessible by small aircraft or boat. The project expects to remove 27 ADVs scattered across four coastal locations. This will not only improve marine habitats but address the negative socioeconomic impacts of the ADVs, which are glutting MIC’s harbors and taking up valuable slip space that could be used by functional vessels for commercial, recreational, and subsistence purposes.

Sitka Conservation Society: Pelican, Alaska, is located on the northwest part of Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska, accessible only by floatplane or boat. At least 10 vessels are planned for removal, which won’t just benefit the habitat but will also help build community partnerships and collaboration while increasing a sense of local pride and empowerment, leading to increased marine stewardship.

The City & Borough of Yakutat: Yakutat is situated on the northernmost tip of the southeast coast of Alaska along the Gulf of Alaska. The geographically isolated community has no roads or rail. The area, which is within the Tongass National Forest, boasts diverse habitats central to local culture and economy. Seven boats will be removed, three of which will help make way for an extensive harbor expansion and upgrade

Guam

Port Authority of Guam: The westernmost territory of the U.S., Guam serves as the only deepwater seaport in the region. The island hosts a significant U.S. military presence, and the port is a commerce lifeline for Guam and the Micronesian region. Removing 13 ADVs will significantly improve environmental conditions, enhance community resilience, and support port sustainability efforts. It will also pave the way for establishing rules and regulations for commercial and private vessel owners to create a more responsible boating environment.

Louisiana

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Govern­ment: Located within the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary, 55 miles west of New Orleans, this biologically rich and productive ecosystem attracts many tourists. It also accounts for 20% of Louisiana’s seafood production. Tribal and commercial fishing communities rely heavily on the waterways for their cultural and traditional way of life and livelihoods. Removal of at least 170 ADVs (many the result of Hurricane Ida in 2021) will create a more sustainable Parish, rehab marine life and water quality, improve the quality of the coastline, and enhance safety and navigation. This ambitious project benefits from significant matching funds.

Maine

State of Maine: The five vessels slated for removal are located along the state’s mid-coast (home to most of the state’s commercial fishing fleet), central coast (Penobscot River, the largest river system in Maine and New England), and Downeast (in Roque Bluffs State Park, a rural area and dumping ground for vessels and commercial fishing marine debris). Maine’s solid waste management and infrastructure is severely limited, so removals are restricted to non-fiberglass vessels, and debris will be recycled or reused to the extent practicable.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources: The St. Thomas East End Reserves, or STEER, comprises three main marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries that hold ecologically and culturally significant coastal, marine, and fisheries resources. This gateway island of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is home to 170 acres of locally protected mangroves, a key research site in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands. Removing 39 ADVs will create a better environment for crucial endangered animals as well as those central to the fishing community, a safer environment for the boating community, and a safe haven for boats during storms.

Washington

Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation: The Port of Neah Bay is a small coastal seaport on the Makah Indian Reservation at the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, bounded on the south by the Olympic National Forest. The project anticipates the removal of 10 vessels and other marine debris from Makah Marina, eliminating the threat of pollution posed by hazardous materials. It will also free up boat slips to be used by the Makah fishing fleet or fishing tourism, supporting the local economy.