I am not sure why the U.S. F&W Service needs to provide funding for larger
boats to have access to Iowa waters. This is from the DNR press releasese
today.
Jane Clark


MARINAS MAY APPLY FOR GRANT TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR LARGER BOATS

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will receive a $100,000
grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to improve boating access,
strengthen community ties to the water and promote the awareness of
transient boating opportunities.  This grant is made available through
the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program.

Transient boats are boats that are 26 feet long or longer.  Facilities
to accommodate these larger boats are often insufficient and sometimes
lacking totally.  Transient boaters are unable to enjoy many of the
recreational, cultural, historical, scenic and natural resources
opportunities associated with waters they boat, said Martin Konrad, who
coordinates the BIG program for the DNR.

The grant is being offered to public marinas that have a need to create
or improve transient boat facilities.  Marinas along the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers are the most likely recipients for the program money,
Konrad said.

"These rivers lack the marinas or commercial tie-up facilities along
extended stretches that benefit transient boats," Konrad said.
"Basic facilities such as tie-ups, fueling docks, utilities and
restrooms are mostly non-existent."

Marina owners and operators interested in the program should contact
Martin Konrad at 515/281-6976.  Interested parties must submit grant
proposals to the DNR by October 15, 2004.

###

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts
and other important Sierra Club messages by email at:
http://www.sierraclub.org/email