Organizations can apply for up to $360,000 to educate recreational boaters about proper sewage disposal and pumpout use.
California organizations interested in protecting the state’s waterways now have an opportunity to help educate recreational boaters while securing federal grant funding.
The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is accepting applications for its 2026 Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Education and Outreach Grant Program. The program will award up to $360,000 in federal funding for each of two targeted regions to support public education on proper vessel sewage disposal, promote the use of pumpout facilities, and monitor sewage pumpout and dump stations.
Established by Congress in 1992, the Clean Vessel Act was created to reduce pollution caused by recreational vessel sewage discharges. Through the grant program, DBW partners with local organizations to educate boaters about responsible waste disposal practices that help protect California’s marine and inland waters.
Improper sewage discharge can negatively affect water quality, aquatic habitats and public health. DBW encourages recreational boaters to use available sewage management facilities, including pumpout stations, dump stations, floating restrooms and mobile pumpout services, rather than discharging waste into state waters.
The grant program is divided into two geographic regions:
Southern California Coast
- Los Angeles County
- Orange County
- San Diego County
- Santa Barbara County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Ventura County
San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Marin
- Monterey
- Napa
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Solano
- Sonoma counties
Organizations may submit proposals covering part of a region if they can demonstrate plans to expand their program throughout the entire region within one year.
Each selected grantee will develop and implement a 12- to 14-month education and outreach program that includes both public education efforts and a pumpout and dump station monitoring program. Applications will be evaluated based on how effectively they demonstrate proven methods for meeting the program’s goals.
The application deadline is 10:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
Recent accomplishments by CVA Education and Outreach grant recipients include:
- Reaching more than 700 boaters through boating events and educational presentations.
- Producing educational videos on marine sanitation that have received more than 23,000 views.
- Supporting the California Pumpout Nav App, which has been downloaded more than 30,000 times since 2018 and helps boaters locate nearby pumpout stations, dump stations and floating restrooms.
- Monitoring more than 150 sewage pumpout stations and 15 dump stations across 19 counties.
- Producing annual reports evaluating pumpout and dump station performance throughout California.
The Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Program is administered by DBW using funding provided through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Funding for local grants is contingent upon continued federal appropriations.
Organizations interested in applying can find grant guidelines, eligibility requirements and application materials on the Division of Boating and Waterways’ website.
