RBAW Monthly Newsletter

- May 2023 -

That's a wrap, 2023 Legislative session wins for Recreational Boating

It was an action-packed 105-day session that saw the passage of several major policies as well as the state’s three biennial budgets: Operating, Capital, and Transportation. A special session was recently called by the Governor to solve an issue unrelated to boating interests. RBAW’s lobbyist will monitor the session to ensure that no action, budget or otherwise is taken detrimental to boating programs.

RBAW Priority Wins for the 2023 Session

• $300k secured in the Capital Budget to start renovations at the Lakebay Marina
• $1.009m in the Department of Natural Resource budget for cleanup of the underground storage tank at Lakebay Marina
• $1.8m secured in the Capital Budget to expand Pump-Out services across the state
• Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee (JLARC) language included in the Operating Budget that will update the revenue vs spend supporting recreational boating in Washington
• Derelict aquatic structures removal legislation and funding passed (SB 5433)
• Derelict vessel removal program notice legislation passed (HB 1753)
• Defeated unworkable policy to create a new paddlecraft education program as well as unnecessary modifications to boater safety and education requirements (SB 5597 / HB 1781)
• Restructured problematic language relating to marina docks and floats in bill to Reduce Plastic Pollution (HB 1085)

Keep reading below for more details on key priorities - and other items of boating interest!

Money for Lakebay Marina Remodel

RBAW came to the legislature seeking $1 million in the capital budget for additional portions of the Lakebay Marina remodel including replacement of the fuel tank, renovation of boat ramp, slips, etc. While we didn’t receive our entire ask, the final budget from the legislature included $300k. It will be great to get started on portions of this remodel - there's a lot of work to do to get this gem of the south sound fixed up. Additionally, $1m was included in DNR's budget to mitigate the old fuel tank. Huge thanks to the capital budget writers, and our champions in the 26^th legislative district for securing this request – and to our lobbyist Trevor Justin!

And an update on other funding sources for Lakebay renovations. The project grant application submitted by RBAW for the Boating Facilities Program (BFP), which is funded by the un-refunded state gas tax paid by boaters, was approved, but two – $5 million dollar projects in the San Juan Islands were also approved, exhausting this round’s available funds. All BFP projects are for boating infrastructure so the boating community will still benefit! The Lakebay application will be resubmitted for the next round and have the time to complete planning and permitting steps. In the interim, an application will be prepared for the upcoming federal Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program.

1000yd Vessel Distances from Southern Resident Orcas to become law

Legislation relating to ‘protecting southern resident orcas from vessels’ passed the House and was approved by the Senate - and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. While this bill took many twists and turns as it proceeded through the legislative process, the bill passed with the mandatory 1,000 yard buffer from southern resident orcas (SRKW’s) effective January 1, 2025. RBAW worked tirelessly on this legislation and improved the bill at multiple steps of the process.

• Establishment of a stakeholder work-group to develop outreach and education strategies for best practices for boaters.
• Differed implementation to allow time to inform and educate boaters on the new distance requirements
• Addition of language regarding officer discretion to offer educational material in lieu of issuing an infraction.

While RBAW supports our orcas and marine life, we raised various process concerns regarding how boaters would know what 1,000 yards is (almost 6/10^th of a mile), how vessel operators would know what type of orca it is, and how this would be enforced.  Recreational boating will be represented on the task force and RBAW looks forward to developing outreach and education strategies for best practices for boaters, and stressing the importance of tools to identify the location of SRKW’s so boaters are aware.

Money for Pump Out Services

RBAW worked closely with a coalition of environmental groups, recreational boating organizations, tug operators, and Washington State Parks to secure a 2023-25 Capital Budget allocation of $1.8 million for pump out capacity in the state. Roughly half of this ($1m) will be used to identify geographic needs and expand recreational mobile pump-out capacity, and the remaining $800k is to establish pump out operation for commercial vessels at the Port of Anacortes. 

We thank State Rep. Julia Reed from the 36^th legislative district and State Sen. Liz Lovelett from the 40^th legislative district who were our champions for this ask.

#MindTheZone this Summer

RBAW is gearing up for summer 2023, with just a few weeks left until the seaplane advisory buoys will be installed for Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Hanging out on Lake Union is what summer is all about in Seattle, but as more users flock to the lake we all need to share this resource. If you see the seaplane advisory buoys flash yellow, a seaplane is getting ready to take off or land so please move 200 ft east or west and give them a little space - its the nice thing to do!

Our Campaign Director, Allison Stribling, has been hard at work reaching out to Lake Union businesses to educate employees and also install #MindTheZone signage. Please help us keep everyone safe on Lake Union this summer and reach out to MindTheZone@RBAW.org if you would like signage for your business, marina, yacht club, paddle group, etc.

State Parks Buoy Repairs

Who doesn’t love a Marine Park!  WA State Parks has the largest state-managed mooring system in the nation with more than 40 marine parks and over 8,500 feet of moorage in Puget Sound.  All buoys need a little love every now and then, check the schedule at the link below in case you’ll be cruising to the area’s scheduled for maintenance activity this summer.

Money in vs. Money out for Recreational Boating in Washington

RBAW’s lobbyist worked closely with Senator John Braun from the 20^th legislative district on the RBAW priority to refresh a December, 2010 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) study which would compare the taxes and fees paid by boaters to the funds returned by the state in support of boating programs. Language to authorize an update to this report, which will be due to the legislature by December 1 of 2024 was included in the final state operating budget.

Vessel Depreciation Discussions Ongoing 

Discussions are continuing with the Department of Revenue on addressing RBAW’s concerns with the depreciation schedule used to determine the annual Watercraft Excise Tax (WET). At the latest meeting in early May, the concept of a wording change to the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) was put on the table which may help resolve the ongoing issue of attempts to annually determine fair market value with a single depreciation table based on original purchase value. RBAW will work on a potential draft of what will need to be introduced in the 2024 legislative session.

Executive Director Candidates

There has been great interest in our open position and we have many viable candidates! The stack ranking of applicants is ongoing with assessment of their non-profit and operations experience, membership and growth results, communications and PR skills - and passion for recreational boating. Our goal is to conduct interviews in May and bring forward a candidate to the June 1^st board meeting. 

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