State marinas get a boost

Boaters from Long Beach to Contra Costa County can expect some sprucing up of the local waterfronts. The California Boating and Waterways Commission approved more than $10 million in loans and grants last week to be used in constructing and improving boating facilities throughout the state.

Approved projects include loans exceeding $7 million to Long Beach to improve downtown marinas and Basins 2 and 3 at Alamitos Bay; a $1.4-million grant to the Port San Luis Harbor District in San Luis Obispo to replace a boat hoist and construct new parking and restroom facilities; and a $280,000 grant to Contra Costa County for the first phase of constructing a $3.7-million boat launching facility at Antioch Marina.

All projects considered by the commission were approved, said department spokeswoman Megan Standard. The funds come from boat registration fees and taxes the state receives on gasoline sold by marinas.

The grants and loans, however, only met a fraction of the $188 million in requests the department received.

“We’ve identified $800 million worth of needs through 2020,” Standard said. She noted that after 20 years, the concrete used in boat docks begins to deteriorate. “A lot of boating facilities we built 20 years ago need to be redone. It’s getting harder and harder each year to respond to the needs, though. We’re hit by the deficit as much as everyone else.”

-- Charles Duhigg