 Official seal as of July 1, 2013 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1957 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Headquarters | One Capitol Mall Suite 410, Sacramento, California |
| Annual budget | $77 million (2007) |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | dbw |
The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is a state government agency under the California State Parks of the California Natural Resources Agency.
The division was established in 1957 upon enactment of legislation supported by the boating community. That legislation established a state boating agency dedicated to all aspects of recreational boating and a special fund (Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund) to fund the division’s activities. The division receives no General Fund support.
The division brings together a body of knowledge as the state’s expert in recreational boating-related matters, including public access, safety and education, marine law enforcement, and consumer and environmental protection.
For example, DBW is responsible for planning, developing, and improving facilities on state-owned and state-managed properties, including those on State Parks and State Water Project properties. It also provides funding so that local agencies can renew deteriorated facilities or develop new public access. In addition, the division is heavily involved in furthering environmentally sound boating practices through its clean and green programs.
DBW conducts and sponsors oceanographic research in marina pollution, sea level, wave measurement, modeling and prediction, beach processes, and coastal flooding and erosion, as they relate to boating facilities, access, safety, and education, and beach restoration and coastal protection. Close cooperation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography facilitate these activities.
The division serves all types of recreational boaters statewide. California has about 2.6 million recreational boats and over 4 million recreational boaters. Recreational boating annually contributes several billion dollars to the state’s economy.
The current Deputy Director of California Division of Boating and Waterways is Ms. Lynn Sadler.