GREEN BOAT

Part and parcel of operating a cruising boat on Wabamun Lake is the responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the water you are 'borrowing'. This may seem like an odd word, but if you consider that a person is on the water for a short time, followed by someone else, then borrowing is a concept that applies. This being the case, we must endeavor to keep the place clean for the permanent residents; fish, birds, bugs, etc. Therefore, we all owe it to the ecology and ourselves to practice green boating. After all, Wabamun Lake does not have a river flowing through it to flush stuff out. But then, this is not an excuse for messing the place up either! Consider the fact that Wabamun Lake has only a few creeks trickling fresh water into it and that the water is replaced by snow melt or rain. Trans-Alta is temporarily pumping water in the lake to offset their losses but this will eventually stop. As of 2005 the lake level is only 25cm below the weir level.

With this in mind, AOSA formally supports and adheres to a policy of "NO DUMPING" of faecal coliform effluents in Wabamun Lake. Most boats are equipped with a porta-potty that can be carried to shore like a suitcase. Other are equipped with a holding tank that can be pumped out. This makes it relatively easy to dump the effluents into a toilet at home or a shore based septic holding tank. SBYC, EYC have these shore dumping facilities for their members. The Wabum Marina has a pay for use facility at their gas dock. It is available to the public. From a legal point of view it should be noted that, "the introduction of effluent into the lake is an offence under the Fisheries Act and could result in the culprit being charged."

On the October 19^th annual general meeting for the Wabamun Watershed Management Council I submitted a proposal for a "citizen operated “Secchi Disk day" with measurements to be taken by volunteer boaters on 9 central Alberta Recreational Lakes "CARL," including Wabamun. This day will be called “Dip in Day” and will hook up with the “Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) Day," with an ongoing data collection on the water turbidity of the lakes. The proposal was warmly received and supported by Dr. David Schindler, whose presentation followed Phil's. It was subsequently presented at the annual CARL meeting where it was also well received.

What is a Secchi Disk you ask? It is a plastic disk 20 cm. in diameter divided into quarters that are painted alternately black and white. (Think of the BMW hood emblem). The disk was developed in 1865 by an Italian priest named Pietro Angelo Secchi to measure the turbidity (transparency) of the Mediterranean. The disk can be mounted on the end of pole or line and is lowered into the water. The depth at which the pattern is no longer visible is taken as a measure of the water transparency. This measure is known as the Secchi depth and is related to water turbidity. His technique has now become a standard for measuring water quality.

All you need to do it commit half an hour weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to take a measurement of the lake's Water Turbidity. Alberta is the only jurisdiction in North America not taking these measurements. Elsewhere the program is highly successful in improving water bodies by showing the water quality problems to the public in an easy to understand method.
Classes will be given for it’s use this winter. If you want to practice taking a Secchi reading before summer then click on SECCHI READING SIMULATOR. It's a good simulation program and probably indispensable in order to get uniform and repeatable readings with a wide range of users. The simulation uses your key board arrows to control the depth of the disk. Read the on screen instructions before taking a plunge. I give it 4 1/2 fisheyes out of 5.

So if you have a small boat, anything from a canoe on up that is built close to the water, and can devote a little time to making Alberta a better place, PLEASE contact my self, Phil Sutton (780) 450-1277 or Glen Gustafson (780) 960-8631, to signify your interest.

There will be a small investment in time for training and doing the measurement as well as the equipment which should not cost $50.00 in total and even less if we buy in bulk. Boats could be anything from a canoe to small fishing boat, runabout or bow rider. Pontoon boats, large sail boats and cabin cruisers with high freeboard will not work unless you can get right down to water level. Phil Sutton WWMC.

It’s official! The controversial new sewage regulations for small craft have been finalized and will go into effect in 2012 for vessels built prior to May 2007. The new regulations will require that sewage be either treated or contained, and subsequently disposed of at a pump-out facility or, if none is available, a specified distance from shore while under way.
On June 17, 2006, the federal government published in the Canada Gazette Part I new proposed sewage pollution prevention regulations that would affect all small vessels with a head installed. Numerous comments were received from recreational boaters and commercial and recreational boating organizations. Transport Canada (TC) then conducted a number of consultative meetings in an attempt to resolve the issues raised.

Many of the more problematic concerns were addressed, and on May 3, 2007, the new regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals were published in the Canada Gazette Part II and brought into law. These regulations are quite detailed and include pollutants such as oil, noxious liquids, dangerous chemicals, garbage, air, anti-fouling systems and, of course, sewage, and are applicable to large commercial vessels, vessels carrying more than 15 persons, and pleasure craft. Publishing the new regulations allowed TC to repeal a number of old regulations, including the former Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Prevention Regulations and the Non-Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Prevention Regulations.

According to TC, these new regulations will permit Canada to accede to the IMO (International Maritime Organization) Annex IV of the Pollution Convention. Previously, boaters could discharge sewage in most B.C. waters except those specifically designated as “No Discharge Areas” (now known as Designated Sewage Areas). For those wishing to view the whole document, the regulations are published in the Canada Gazette. Pacific Yachting magazine has provided a summary as follows.

IMPLEMENTATION - For “new” vessels built after May 3, 2007, and for all vessels operating in Designated Sewage Areas, these regulations must now be complied with effective immediately. For vessels already in existence when these regulations were gazetted, compliance is required within five years (by May 3, 2012).

APPROVED HEADS - Most pleasure boats will need to be equipped with an approved marine sanitation device (MSD), holding tank or facilities for temporary storage. The “approved” MSD for recreational boats must be a U.S. Coast Guard Type II. Holding tanks must be properly constructed, have adequate capacity, and have a means of determining levels without the tank being opened. “Facilities for Temporary Storage” are permitted if it is not practical to install either an MSD or a holding tank, and measures are in place to ensure the proper disposal of sewage. This would include devices such as non-plumbed porta-potties (and buckets).

SEWAGE DISCHARGE - Except when a discharge is necessary for the saving of lives, safety of the vessel or as otherwise specifically authorized, no discharge of sewage or sewage sludge is permitted.

The discharge of sewage from a vessel is, however, authorized if the vessel is equipped with:

MSD (USCG Type II) are devices that treat sewage with disinfectant chemicals (and by other means) to a specified level before discharge. Because of size and power requirements, MSDs are usually only found on large yachts.

Note: Operational testing of effluent from a MSD may be required to ensure that the effluent meets the required fecal coliform standards, and the total suspended solids content of the samples of effluent is 50 mg/L or less; the five-day biochemical oxygen demand of the samples of effluent is 50 mg/L or less; and in the case of chlorine used as a disinfectant, the total residual chlorine content of the samples of effluent is 0.5 mg/L or less.

DESIGNATED SEWAGE AREAS - Schedule 4 to the new regulations lists and describes the former 17 “No Discharge Areas” (now known as Designated Sewage Areas) still in effect. They are Shuswap Lake, Mara Lake, Okanagan Lake, Christina Lake, Horsefly Lake, Kalamalka Lake, Pilot Bay in Kootenay Lake east of Nelson, Stuart Lake northwest of Fort St. James, Carrington Bay, Cortes Bay, Manson’s Landing and Gorge Harbour, Montague Harbour, Pilot Bay on the north coast of Gabriola Island, Prideaux Haven, Roscoe Bay, Smuggler Cove and Squirrel Cove.

IN SUMMARY - Vessels with heads will be expected to be equipped with an approved MSD or some means of sewage containment (holding tanks). With an approved MSD, sewage may, under specified conditions, be discharged into most B.C. waters one mile or more from shore. Untreated sewage may, under specified conditions, be discharged into most B.C. waters three miles or more from shore. In bodies of water less than six miles across and under specified conditions, sewage must be discharged as far from shore as possible, providing pump-out facilities are not available.

Certain chemical based boat maintenance jobs should never be done while the boat is afloat for the risk of spilling toxic stuff in the water. The marine life simply cannot live it. If the marine life can't live with it, neither can you! However, these jobs are OK to do while the boat is on land provided you can contain and safely dispose of the cleaners, etc. Some maintenance jobs can be performed while the boat is afloat provided the chemicals are "environmentally friendly" AND you take the precautions to prevent spillage. The obvious conclusion should come to mind, "don't pollute the water or shores around the lake." However, labels are not always understandable. For instance, many cleaners contain phosphates that promote algae growth and others contain minute amounts of toxics that will kill any life form.

In the interest of a safer environment I'm offering here a list of chemicals that are "safe" to use while on the water. I welcome you to add to this list to share your knowledge with the rest of the boating community. Please email additions to me.

CHEMICAL	LAND	WATER	APPLICATION
Amsoil Saber Outboard 100:1		X	A high quality synthetic 2-cycle outboard oil that is good enough to mix at 100:1 for your 50:1 engine. This automatically cuts the pollution in half. In fact, I regularly mix my my outboard gas at 150:1 with absolutely no problem to the engine.
Gasoline	X		Gasoline tanks should never be filled on water due to the risk of spillage. Gasoline is instant death to certain marine life. To transfer fuel from a jug to the tank use a sealed hose or large funnel.
?		X	Clean the alkali water line.
?	X		Wax the hull.
?		X	Clean acrylic windows or hatches.
Dew. Yup the stuff that lies on your deck in early morning.		X	Clean a fiberglass deck with pure water. Rain or dew, has an incredible capacity to absorb things which makes it perfect for cleaning fiberglass on its own. Simply wipe while the surface is still wet.
?	X		Clean fenders or other vinyl.
Thetford Auqua-chem		X	Odor killing chemicals for a port-potty.
?	X		Clean Dacron sails.
Vinegar soaked in a clean cloth.		X	Cleans mold and mildew from bright work. Also cleans the BBQ, windows and leaves stainless steel shiny.

We all owe it to the ecology and ourselves to practice green boating as much as possible.
- On the west coast of BC, the issue has been raised via the media and many solutions are in place. For more info, click on Georgia Strait Alliance.
- The Wabamun Watch Society voluntarily monitors the ecology of the Wabamun Lake.
- Today we also have the Wabamun Water Shed Management Council.