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15
50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007
to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on larger projects for
the first time.”
Bill believes that Cal Boating has demonstrated that a relatively small
group of people can do meaningful and vital work at the state level.
“We earned a reputation for doing useful work, for being responsive to
the boating public, and for getting things done on a timely basis,” says
Bill. That dedication to responsiveness provided the basic philosophy
which ensured the department’s overall success with the public.
Vessel registration
responsibilities are
transferred back to
DMV.
Department becomes
lead agency for coastal
beach erosion control,
with duties transferred
from the Department of
Water Resources.
Early
1970s
Michael Landon (Little Joe) and Dan Blocker
(Hoss) from the TV show“Bonanza” visit
Cal Boating to discuss project: an inflatable
fabric and rubber tube that could be filled
with sand and used as a temporary groin and
breakwater for beach protection.
Aquatic weed unit staff treat water hyacinth in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
In 1982, state legislation designated Cal Boating as the lead agency for the control of water hyacinth in the
Delta. The plant, deceptively attractive and originally from Brazil, was discovered in the Delta over 100 years
ago. It grows faster than any other known plant and can double in size every 10 days during hot weather
conditions. Cal Boating operates an extensive water quality monitoring program along with programs that are
studying alternatives to control the plant non-chemically. Left unchecked, water hyacinth can negatively impact
navigation, commerce, marinas, and agricultural water pumping.