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50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007
from the people she met. “My job gave me a feeling of confidence,”
explains Marty. “I knew I could do it, and I was so proud to represent
the state of California and women and minorities.”
Indeed, Marty directed the department during a time of great
transformation, not only in California, but across the nation. Under
her administration, the name of her agency changed from the
Department of Navigation and Ocean Development to the Department
of Boating and Waterways, indicating more accurately its focus and
responsibilities. For years, the common term used to describe people
who went boating had been “boatman.” Slowly, around this time,
nautical terminology began to reflect all of the women who were
joining the men out on the water and in top government jobs. “The
name became ‘boater’ instead of ‘boatman,’” notes Marty. “We were
really breaking the mold.”
During her tenure as director, Marty worked hard to build
relationships between Cal Boating and the different boating groups
in California. Around this time, white water rafting was becoming
popular, and many recreation power boaters had to be convinced that
the state’s waterways needed to be available to everyone. Marty was
able to smooth a lot of waters and win friends in both camps. Many
sail boaters and rafters shared environmental concerns, and Marty
showed them that Cal Boating was keenly interested in keeping
California’s waters clean. When another public agency wanted to
curtail release of water from Folsom Reservoir during the summer
to protect fish spawning, boaters were fearful over the potential
loss of needed water for recreation. Marty and her staff were able to
demonstrate that the spawning actually took place at other times of
the year, and the summer water level was maintained.
Cal Boating receives
authority to control
another invasive
aquatic weed,
Egeria
densa
, in Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta.
1997
Cal Boating works with state
Senator Mike Thompson to
pass comprehensive laws
aimed at reducing number of
accidents/injuries associated
with personal watercraft.
Personal watercraft accidents
drop dramatically.
Cal Boating and state
Senator Richard Rainey
support passage of SB
172, establishing grant
program for removal
of abandoned vessels
and other navigational
hazards.