The 2023 California Boater Kit Recipient Questionnaire Report

The California Boating Clean and Green Program (BCGP) and The Bay Foundation (TBF) have been collaborating since 2001 to implement several programs including the California Dockwalker Program. Dockwalkers are partners who inspire and educate boaters and other recreators about safe and environmentally sound boating practices. Dockwalkers distribute California Boater Kits (Kit/Kits), which include educational materials and pollution prevention materials while visiting marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows, and events. Partners work with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership, Conservation Corps chapters, and many more organizations.  The California Boater Kit is the main outreach tool for Dockwalkers and Partners. The Kit targets best management pollution prevention practices related to the following pollutants: oil, sewage, marine debris, household hazardous waste, and toxic wastewater. The Kit highlights local environmental services such as sewage pumpouts, used oil and oil filter recycling facilities, and County household hazardous waste collection centers. Materials found in the Kit include both publications and resources, such as oil absorbents, fuel bib, “ABCs of California Boating,” “Environmental Boating Laws Every Recreational Boater Should Know,” “A Boater’s Guide to Keeping Pollutants Out of the Water” Binder Card, region-specific tide books, maps with clean boating resources, and/or additional region-specific educational literature.  The Kit and its components are specifically designed to prompt boaters to take action and implement at least one of the Program’s recommended best management practices. Boaters receive a Kit after completing a brief Boater Kit Questionnaire (Questionnaire) which also includes a pledge. This Questionnaire helps to identify gaps in environmental knowledge and better target future education efforts. In addition, the Questionnaire helps us to identify and map where boaters reside who have been engaged by Dockwalkers.