State Agencies Deserve Recognition

It is easy to criticize government. Some people seem to make a full-time job out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I have done my fair share of complaining but at this point in time, when it comes to boating in the State of Washington, I think it is time for some well-deserved recognition.

Before I start handing out awards to agencies, let me back up for a moment.

Boating is big business in the State generating over $4B in economic activity each year. On top of that, boating is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians with over 350,000 boats of sizes and shapes. On top of that, our beautiful waters bring tourists from all over the world to ride our ferries and cruise in the San Juan Islands.

As it turns out, the State of Washington has divided the responsibility to manage boaters and boating programs between seven (7) different agencies. Here are four that have demonstrated to me that they want to “Serve Our Boaters Better.”

1. Washington Parks Department – We worked side-by-side with the Parks Department to help create the new boater education law that went into effect three months ago. It took us over three years of regular meetings to build consensus within the boating world of what a balanced mandatory boater education program looked like. Parks Department staff were with us all the way helping us learn how to reach our goals. Two years later, they were supporters of the Boater Needs Study that I wrote about in the January issue of Water Life and they continue to support the notion of increased coordination between the seven state agencies that directly impact boaters.

2. Department of Licensing – This is the agency that sends out the vessel renewal notice in April every year to all 280,000 registered boat owners. We contacted DOL a year ago to ask if they would provide a breakdown to boat owners for each fee and tax that boaters pay every year. The agency listened and the renewal form that boaters will receive this month will have detailed information that will help us shine a light on just how much boaters pay into the State every year… and where that money goes. Once boaters have this information, we believe that we can mobilize them to become advocates for greater investment by the State in boating programs.

3. Department of Natural Resources – Over the years, this agency has caused our marina members to scream in the night. Those challenges are still with us, but the DNR deserves praise for the way that they have created and managed the new Derelict Vessel Removal program. Getting derelict vessels off the water so they don’t pollute and aren’t hazards to navigation is expensive and takes a coordinated statewide effort. Although the DNR does not have funding to remove every vessel on their radar screen, they have developed a well thought-out strategy which allows them to prioritize the vessels so the worst ones can hopefully be removed first. Our experience with the program has been very positive.

4. Recreation and Conservation Office – This is a very small boutique state agency that hardly anyone has ever heard of. In part because they just changed their name this past year, but even the old name was known to only a few. The RCO plays a critical role in giving grants to state, regional and local agencies to build new boat launch ramps around the state. We have always thought they did a good job with the grant program so we supported the legislature a year ago when they wanted to invest $2M in new money in boating programs and were looking for a home. The RCO has acted wisely with their assignment. They conducted a very meaningful Boater Needs Assessment Study, which I wrote about in January. In the past month, they have also responded to a legislative directive to create a new Boating Advisory Committee.

Hats off to all four of these state agencies and the individuals who lead them!

I am convinced that most government employees want to make a difference and contribute to a better world. I am also convinced that it is our responsibility as business owners and citizens to advocate for our individual causes, to work with state agencies as partners, to engage in the public process and to assume the watchdog role when appropriate. Working with government requires a mixture of patience and persistence but in the end, that’s what it takes if we want the state to “Serve Our Boaters Better.”

With warm regards,

Michael Campbell
President
michael@nmta.net