California Department of Boating and Waterways

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = California Department of Boating and Waterways
nativename =
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seal_width = 125px
seal_caption = Official seal
formed = 1957
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preceding1 = Division of Small Craft Harbors
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dissolved =
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headquarters = 2000 Evergreen Street Suite 100, Sacramento, California
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budget = $77 million (2007)
chief1_name = Raynor Tsuneyoshi
chief1_position = Director
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parent_agency = California Resources Agency
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website = http://www.dbw.ca.gov
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The California Department of Boating and Waterways, also known as Cal Boating, is a department within the government of California, belonging to the state cabinet-level California Resources Agency. Originally formed in 1957 as the Division of Small Craft Harbors, the department was officially reorganized to take under new responsibilities under the governorship of Jerry Brown on January 1, 1979. Among the department's responsibilities include ensuring boat safety along the state's coastline and various rivers, state law enforcement, monitor beach erosion, maintain boater facilities and marinas, and environmental regulation of aquatic motor engines and non-native species from state waters. The California Department of Motor Vehicles retains boater registration responsibilities.

The current Director of Cal Boating is Raynor Tsuneyoshi.

Units

Cal Boating is made of two Enforcement and Environmental units to coordinate the department's responsibilities. Between them, both units oversee 17 programs, ranging from boater safety rules to species control.

Pollution controls

Cal Boating heavily regulates the use of carbureted and electronic-injection two-stroke engines manufactured prior to 1989 in California waters, considering them high-emission polluters. Due to emission standards, Cal Boating has banned their use on several lakes throughout the state. Direct injection two-stroke engines made since 1989, however, are permitted on the state's waterways with some non-emission standard exceptions.

Non-native species removal

Cal Boating's Aquatic Pest Control Program has since 1982 targeted to control and eradicate the water hyacinth from state waters. A native of the Amazon River in South America, the water hyacinth was introduced to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in the early 20th century. Due to the quick blooming of the water hyacinth, the plant displaces native wildlife, blocks light needed for photosynthesis, reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, and deposits silt and organic matter at several times the normal rate. In 1997, Cal Boating added the egeria densa, another South American native, onto its list of species targeted for control and eradication.

ee also

*California Environmental Protection Agency
*California Coastal Commission
*United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

External links

* [http://www.dbw.ca.gov California Department of Boating and Waterways official website]
* [http://www.dbw.ca.gov/DirectorMsg.aspx Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi's official website]