United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

National Management Measures

Guidance to Control Nonpoint

Source Pollution from Marinas and

Recreational Boating

EPA 841-B-01-005

November 2001

Office of Water

(4503F)
National Management

Measures to Control

Nonpoint Source Pollution

from Marinas and

Recreational Boating

Nonpoint Source Control Branch

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

November, 2001
Acknowledgements

Edwin Drabkowski, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Nonpoint

Source Control Branch, Washington, DC, was the primary author and project leader for this

guidance document.

Sam Pett, Tetra Tech, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, assisted in the effort.

Neil Ross, Neil Ross Consultants, Kingston, Rhode Island, provided valuable contributions
Contents

i

CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

The Purpose and Scope of This Guidance ........................................................................................ 1-1

Relationship to CZARA Guidance ................................................................................................... 1-2

National Water Quality Inventory .................................................................................................... 1-3

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? ................................................................................................. 1-4

Watershed Approach to Nonpoint Source Pollution Control............................................................... 1-5

Programs to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution ................................................................................ 1-7

National Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program............................................................... 1-7

Storm Water Permit Program................................................................................................. 1-8

Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program ........................................................................... 1-8

Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program ............................................................................. 1-9

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)....................... 1-9

Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and Regulations .............................................................................. 1-10

Sources of Further Information ..................................................................................................... 1-10

Watershed Resources................................................................................................................... 1-11

SECTION 2: SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION FROM MARINAS AND

RECREATIONAL BOATING

Pollutant Types and Impacts ........................................................................................................... 2-2

Pollutants in the Water Column ....................................................................................................... 2-2

Low Dissolved Oxygen ......................................................................................................... 2-3

Metals .................................................................................................................................. 2-3

Petroleum Hydrocarbons ....................................................................................................... 2-3

Solvents................................................................................................................................ 2-4

Antifreeze ............................................................................................................................. 2-4

Acids.................................................................................................................................... 2-4

Surfactants ........................................................................................................................... 2-4

Pollutants in Aquatic Organisms ...................................................................................................... 2-4

Pollutants in Sediments ................................................................................................................... 2-5

Metals .................................................................................................................................. 2-5

Petroleum Hydrocarbons ....................................................................................................... 2-5

Pathogens ...................................................................................................................................... 2-5

Debris and Litter ............................................................................................................................ 2-6

Sediment and Habitat Alterations .................................................................................................... 2-6

Shoaling and Shoreline Alterations ................................................................................................... 2-7

SECTION 3: NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL AND WATERBODY

CHARACTERISTICS

Understanding Management Measures and Practices....................................................................... 3-1

How Management Practices Work to Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution .......................................... 3-2

Management Practice Systems ....................................................................................................... 3-4

Site-Specific Design of Management Practices................................................................................ 3-4

Important Characteristics of Marina Environments from a Pollution Perspective ................................ 3-5

General Factors Common to All Waterbodies.......................................................................... 3-5

Lakes and Reservoirs............................................................................................................ 3-5

Rivers................................................................................................................................... 3-6

Estuaries............................................................................................................................... 3-6

Coastal Environments............................................................................................................ 3-7
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Contents

Boating on Inland Waters................................................................................................................ 3-7

Boating Access.............................................................................................................................. 3-8

SECTION 4: MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 4-1

4.1. Marina Flushing ................................................................................................................... 4-7

4.2. Water Quality Assessment ................................................................................................. 4-13

4.3. Habitat Assessment ........................................................................................................... 4-19

4.4. Shoreline Stabilization......................................................................................................... 4-27

4.5. Storm Water Runoff .......................................................................................................... 4-31

4.6. Fueling Station Design........................................................................................................ 4-45

4.7. Petroleum Control.............................................................................................................. 4-53

4.8. Liquid Material Management .............................................................................................. 4-59

4.9. Solid Waste Management ................................................................................................... 4-67

4.10. Fish Waste Management .................................................................................................... 4-73

4.11. Sewage Facility Management ............................................................................................. 4-77

4.12. Maintenance of Sewage Facilities....................................................................................... 4-87

4.13. Boat Cleaning.................................................................................................................... 4-91

4.14. Boat Operation .................................................................................................................. 4-95

4.15. Public Education ................................................................................................................ 4-99

Note: A BMP Summary Table follows each Management Measure discussion.

SECTION 5: DETERMINING POLLUTANT LOADS

Example Models for Marina Flushing Assessment............................................................................ 5-2

Selection criteria ................................................................................................................... 5-2

Models selected .................................................................................................................... 5-3

Simple Model................................................................................................................................. 5-3

Mid-Range Models......................................................................................................................... 5-5

Tidal prism model.................................................................................................................. 5-5

NCDEM DO model.............................................................................................................. 5-6

Complex Models ............................................................................................................................ 5-6

WASP4 ................................................................................................................................ 5-6

EFDC Hydrodynamic Model.................................................................................................. 5-7

Water Quality Monitoring in Marinas (for modeling applications) ....................................................... 5-8

Sampling guidelines for existing marinas ................................................................................. 5-8

Spatial coverage .................................................................................................................... 5-8

Constituents sampled............................................................................................................. 5-9

Sampling locations ............................................................................................................... 5-10

Sampling time and frequency ............................................................................................... 5-10

APPENDICES

A. Best Management Practices Checklist for Marinas and Recreational Boating

B. Example Oil Spill Response Plan

C. Tables of Costs and Benefits of Marina Best Management Practices

D. Federal Laws Related to Marinas and Recreational Boating

E. Web Sites With Information Related to Marinas and Recreational Boating

F. Storm Water Runoff Management Practice Tables

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GLOSSARY
Contents

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Tables

1-1 Percentages of surveyed waters supporting designated uses .................................................. 1-4

3-1 Marine sanitation device descriptions .................................................................................... 3-4

4-1 Common invasive and exotic species of the United States .................................................... 4-21

4-2 Conversion of SIC to NAICS ............................................................................................. 4-32

4-3 Effectiveness of management practices for runoff control.................................................... 4-33

4-4 EPA-designated no-discharge zones in the United States...................................................... 4-83

5-1 Ease of application: Sources, support, and documentation ...................................................... 5-4

5-2 Level of effort for best models ............................................................................................. 5-5

BMP Summary Tables

Key to BMP Tables ....................................................................................................................... 4-4

Table 1 Marina flushing management ........................................................................................ 4-11

Table 2 Water quality assessment management ......................................................................... 4-17

Table 3 Habitat assessment management .................................................................................. 4-24

Table 4 Shoreline and streambank stabilization management ....................................................... 4-30

Table 5 Storm water runoff management .................................................................................. 4-40

Table 6 Fueling station design management ............................................................................... 4-50

Table 7 Petroleum control management..................................................................................... 4-56

Table 8 Liquid material management ......................................................................................... 4-63

Table 9 Solid waste management .............................................................................................. 4-71

Table 10 Fish waste management ............................................................................................... 4-75

Table 11 Sewage waste management ......................................................................................... 4-84

Table 12 Maintenance of sewage facilities management .............................................................. 4-89

Table 13 Boat cleaning management........................................................................................... 4-94

Table 14 Boat operation management ......................................................................................... 4-98

Table 15 Public education management..................................................................................... 4-105

Figures

1-1 Schematic of a watershed .................................................................................................... 1-6

1-2 MARPOL placard ............................................................................................................. 1-10

2-1 Effects of pollutants in aquatic systems ................................................................................. 2-2

3-1 Typical features of and differences between lakes and reservoirs ........................................... 3-8

4-1 Example marina designs ....................................................................................................... 4-9

4-2 Breached breakwater, Puerto Del Rey Marina (PR) ............................................................ 4-10

4-3 The Secchi disk ................................................................................................................. 4-13

4-4 Scallop monitoring, Cedar Island Marina (CT) ..................................................................... 4-15

4-5 Biological assemblages used for lake monitoring .................................................................. 4-16

4-6 Habitat assessment, Elliot Bay Marina (WA) ....................................................................... 4-20

4-7 Oak Harbor Marina (WA) sign ........................................................................................... 4-23

4-8 Inland boat repair, Conanicut Marine Service (RI) ............................................................... 4-35

4-9 Grassed buffer, Deep River Marina (CT) ............................................................................ 4-37

4-10 Grassed filter strip ............................................................................................................. 4-38

4-11 Crushed gravel lot, Lockwood Boat Works (NJ) .................................................................. 4-38

4-12 Underground trench with oil/grit chamber............................................................................ 4-39

4-13 PWC floating docks ........................................................................................................... 4-47

4-14 High temperature furnace, West Access Marina (IL) .......................................................... 4-62

4-15 Filter cloths, Port Annapolis Marina (MD)........................................................................... 4-67

4-16 Vacuum sanders, The Lodge of the Four Seasons Marina (MO)........................................... 4-68

4-17 Closed sandblasting system, Associated Marine Technologies (FL)....................................... 4-70
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Contents

4-18 Pumpout station logo .......................................................................................................... 4-78

4-19 Examples of pumpout systems ............................................................................................ 4-79

4-20 Pumpout system, Hall of Fame Marina (FL)........................................................................ 4-80

4-21 Staff pumpouts, Battery Park Marina (OH)......................................................................... 4-80

4-22 An example of a sign declaring a “no discharge” marina ...................................................... 4-81

4-23 Disposable doggie bags, Elliot Bay Marina (WA) ................................................................. 4-82

4-24 Warning sign that indicates toxicity to both people and the environment ................................. 4-92

4-25 National Clean Boating Campaign logo ............................................................................. 4-101

4-26 Sign with instructions to patrons on proper disposal of materials.......................................... 4-102

5-1 Structure of and modules associated with the EFDC model.................................................... 5-7