Lake Park Harbor Marina Goes Green to Keep Water Blue

(reprint from the FDEP Newsletter, the POST)

LAKE PARK, FL – The Department, together with the Clean Boating Partnership, recognized the Lake Park Harbor Marina in Palm Beach County on Wednesday as the 174th member of the Florida Clean Marina Program statewide and the 13th in Palm Beach County. With the addition of Lake Park Harbor Marina, the state has now designated a total of 183 Clean Marinas, 29 Clean Boatyards and five Clean Marine Retailers.

“DEP is pleased to announce that Lake Park Harbor Marina has joined the Florida Clean Marina Program,” said DEP Southeast District Director Jack Long. “The town of Lake Park is helping to keep Palm Beach County waterways and marinas clean and sustainable by preventing pollution and preserving their marine resources.”

Florida Clean Marina Program facilities are required to meet a variety of best management practices to receive designation. These practices include, but are not limited to, properly storing and disposing of used oil, using fertilizers and pesticides according to directions, and using cleaning methods that prevent the release of pollutants. “Lake Park Harbor Marina is pleased to be designated as a Florida Clean Marina,” said Michael Pisano, Marina Director. “The hard work it took to become a Clean Marina is a major accomplishment for this facility, and one which the town can be proud of.”

The Clean Boating Partnership is a consortium of industry leaders who contribute time and input to the Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer and Clean Boater programs, which DEP administers to protect Florida’s waterways. The partnership includes DEP, Marine Industries Association of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, University of Florida Sea Grant Program, United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. “The Clean Boating Partnership congratulates Lake Park Harbor Marina for its commitment to Florida’s environment,” said the Partnership’s Chair John Naybor. “The dedication and hard work in becoming a Clean Marina is an accomplishment this facility can be proud of and we welcome it to our growing Clean Marina family.”

With more than one million registered motorized vessels in Florida, environmental education within marine industries is the first step toward safeguarding the state’s natural resources. By providing “green” education and alternatives, the Florida Clean Marina Program helps ensure a sustainable future for the environment and a billion dollar marine industry. For more information about the Florida Clean Marina Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina.

DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary, non-regulatory programs that assist Florida industry and citizens in protecting the environment. The Clean Marina Program, the Florida Green Lodging Program and the Florida Pollution Prevention Program offer a variety of services including on-site assessments, consultations, speakers and workshops, all at no cost to citizens or organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives programs is to meet the needs of the present population without compromising resources for future generations. To learn more about DEP’s Sustainable Initiatives, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/green.