The California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is accepting applications for its Sewage Management Education and Outreach Grant Program. This program is funded through the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and aims to educate California boaters and raise awareness about proper boat sewage disposal.
The program supports two primary goals within designated geographic regions. The first goal is to educate the boating community about issues related to vessel sewage, including impacts, available resources, and best practices for disposal. This includes promoting the use of pumpout stations, dump stations, and mobile pumpout services. It also involves outreach to boating facility operators about DBW grants that can help them install or maintain these disposal facilities.
The second goal is to monitor pumpout and dump station usage and conditions. Grantees will assist DBW by gathering data on facility usage, repair needs, and operational status. This includes regular updates and use of the Pumpout Nav App, development of new app features, and providing training and technical assistance to boaters and partnering agencies.
The desired outcomes include increased awareness among boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal and its environmental consequences. The program also aims to support marina operators in maintaining sewage management infrastructure and using DBW grants for facility upgrades. Grantees from different regions will collaborate to coordinate statewide outreach efforts.
A total of $720,000 is available statewide, with a maximum of $360,000 allocated per region. Of this amount, around $300,000 is intended for education and outreach efforts, while approximately $60,000 is set aside for monitoring activities.
The program targets two regions in California: the 13-county San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary and six coastal counties in Southern California. Eligible counties include San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, and Monterey in the Bay Area; and Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo in Southern California.
Nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, and private companies are eligible to apply. However, funds may not be used for advocacy efforts. Applicants must have at least five years of experience in educational and outreach programming, and their results must be documented and verifiable.
This is a reimbursement-based grant covering up to 75% of eligible project costs. Applicants are required to provide at least 25% in matching funds, which may include cash, in-kind donations, or volunteer hours. The application deadline is August 11, 2025.
For more information, visit DBW.
