Washington awards over $500,000 in pumpout grants, with the San Juan Islands getting the largest share

Washington State Parks said on June 25 that it had awarded more than $500,000 in federal pass-through grants for recreational boat pumpouts under the Clean Vessel Act program. The biggest award, $262,215, went to the Recreational Boating Association of Washington for a new mobile pumpout program in the San Juan Islands. Stuart Island State Park received $150,000 to replace piles on a pumpout barge at Reid Harbor. Blake Island State Park received $48,635 for a new pumpout and redesigned facility, and the City of Bainbridge Island received $27,187 to replace its pumpout at Eagle Harbor. The Semiahmoo Marina Condo Association received $13,102 for a replacement portable pumpout.

Recipients must provide a 25% match. State Parks said state appropriation funds are available for facilities that might otherwise struggle with that requirement, and that over three years it has put up nearly $500,000 toward the match on new development grants.

The agency also said the program paid for annual operation and maintenance at more than 100 pumpout and dump station facilities, with $511,000 in grants going to that last year. It ties the need to the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, in effect since 2018.

State Parks said its assessment of pumpout facilities found regions needing new or repaired units, including the San Juan Islands.