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8
50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007
Through 2007, Cal Boating has
provided over $381 million in
planning and construction loans
to local agencies for development
of small craft harbors, resulting in
enhanced public access and urban
revitalization.
H.G. Stevens, first
division chief, is paid
a salary of $1,050 per
month.
1958
Original consumer
protection program
for licensing of
yacht brokers and
salespeople is
passed into law.
Cal Boating Leads the Way:
Sub-Metering of Marinas
The installation and use of kilowatt
hour sub-meters in marinas has a
dramatic impact on electrical power
consumption. A field study initiated
by Cal Boating employee Bill Curry
showed that sub-meters would reduce
power consumption by nearly 50
percent. The 1995 study, entitled
Report
on Documented Field Study of Actual
Electrical Power Use in California
Small Craft Harbors
, was funded by
Cal Boating and conducted by ADCO
Electric, Inc. of Santa Cruz.
By lowering power consumption, sub-
metering becomes a significant method
for the conservation of energy, thus
reducing carbon footprints. Typically,
an existing non-sub-metered marina
will realize a 60 percent to 70 percent
reduction in annual electrical utility
costs after sub-meters are installed.
Indeed, public service has been a key theme in Bill’s career,
complementing Cal Boating’s philosophy of helping to enhance the
experience of California boaters. In 1972, Bill became involved in the
“S.S. Relief ” Floating Restroom Program, under which Cal Boating has
helped fund the installation of more than 200 floating restrooms on
state lakes and reservoirs. Bill was one of three department employees
who began to “float” the idea of a floating privy. The “environmentally
green” restroom facilities, part of the local assistance grant program,
are extremely popular.
Bill has also played a significant national role in recreational boating
facility accessibility and compliance with the Americans With
Disabilities Act Accessibilities Guidelines (ADAAG). As originally
published in 1991, ADAAG lacked provisions that addressed boating
facilities. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board (ATBCB, or Access Board), the agency responsible for
developing federal accessibility criteria, needed information with
which to write recreational accessibility guidelines. Along with two
colleagues from Oregon and New York, Bill helped the Access Board
staff draft and critique these guidelines as they were developed for
publication in 2002.
In 2004, ADAAG was modified and merged with another guidelines
document, resulting in the ADA-ABA Accessibility Guidelines that
are currently under review by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
When approved and published, the guidelines will become federal rules
enforceable by DOJ and will have an important bearing on accessibility
for public and privately owned boat launch ramps, fishing piers,
marinas, and courtesy docks. The new rules will apply to all elements
of recreational boating facilities that are part of an accessible route,
including details for parking, restrooms, slopes, dimensions, gangways,
docks, boat slips, handrails, curbs, safety rails, and signage.