SACRAMENTO — California State Parks and the California Coastal Commission’s Boating Clean and Green Program, in partnership with The Bay Foundation, are inviting the public to participate in the 2026 Dockwalker Program, a statewide initiative focused on protecting California’s waterways through boater education and peer-to-peer outreach.
Dockwalkers serve as environmental stewards at marinas, boat launches, boating events, and other waterfront locations, where they engage directly with boaters to promote safe and environmentally responsible practices. Volunteers distribute educational materials, including California Boater Kits, which address pollution prevention related to oil, fuel, sewage, trash, and marine debris.
Free Dockwalker training sessions, offered both virtually and in person, will begin in March and continue through May. Participation in the program, including training, qualifies as community service.
With an estimated 4 million recreational boaters statewide, California experiences some of the highest boating activity in the nation. Even small amounts of pollution from individual vessels can have significant cumulative impacts on water quality and marine ecosystems. Since its launch in 2000, the Dockwalker Program has trained more than 1,400 volunteers who have reached over 130,000 boaters across the state with clean boating information.
The program emphasizes face-to-face education as an effective way to influence boating behavior. Boaters who receive California Boater Kits are asked to complete a questionnaire and pledge to adopt at least one recommended clean boating practice, helping guide future outreach and education efforts.
The Dockwalker Program is open to anyone age 15 and older with an interest in water quality and environmental stewardship, regardless of boating background. Many Dockwalkers are boaters themselves, a peer-driven approach the program describes as creating positive “pier pressure” for cleaner waterways.
Marinas and yacht clubs are also encouraged to participate. Facilities involved in the program receive educational resources to support clean boating operations, earn points toward the Clean Marine designation, and gain credit toward Club of the Year nominations in the community service category. Yacht clubs and marinas play a key role in reaching boaters directly where they recreate.
The program also complements the missions of boating safety organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons by reinforcing environmental responsibility alongside safety education.
The Dockwalker Program is supported through partnerships with The Bay Foundation, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership, and other organizations dedicated to clean and safe boating.
More information about becoming a Dockwalker, including volunteer testimonials, is available at boatingcleanandgreen.com/dockwalkers.
