Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club Earns State’s Clean Marina Status
(January 29, 2009) - Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp joined the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Clean Boating Partnership to recognize Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club as one of Florida’s newest Clean Marinas. Lt. Governor Kottkamp commended the environmental stewardship of the marina, which is the 11th in Collier County to meet the stringent requirements of the Clean Marina Program.
"With more than 1,350 miles of coastline and 50,000 miles of inland and coastal rivers and streams, protecting Florida's precious water resources is cruicial," said Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. "Waterways are a significant part of Florida's tourism, marine and fishing industries, and the Florida Clean Marina Program is important for not only protecting and preserving, but encouraging environmental education within the marine industry and raising awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship."
Only one out of every 12 marinas in Florida has achieved the Clean Marina designation, which requires compliance with a lengthy set of procedures related to safety, environmental protection and Best Management Practices. The Clean Marina action plan has 125 steps in categories ranging from emergency preparedness, hurricane planning and fire safety to the management of fuel, solid liquid wastes, chemicals, batteries and storm water, among others.
Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club has raised the bar for Clean Marinas by exceeding the environmental measures and Best Management Practices necessary for designation.
"We provide boaters with a sewage pump at every boat slip, instead of just one or two pumps for the entire marina," said Ted Maupin, director of marina operations at Hamilton Harbor. A closed loop pressure washer and upland fish cleaning station prevent residue and waste from entering the water, he added, and a specially designed filtration system captures and cleans storm water runoff from neighboring streets.
In additon, Hamilton Harbor chose to build with IPE lumber, a renewable resource that is naturally fire resistant and does not use toxins or chemicals found in other decking options. They also built the marina's sea wall to be submerged at high tide in order to restore natural tidal flows into the surrounding mangroves.
"DEP is pleased to have Hamilton Harbor Yacht CLub on board as a CLean Marina," said Jon Iglehart, DEP's South District Director. "By implementing the water quality protection standards of the program they are helping to preserve our waterways and the recreational opportunities they afford."
With more than one million registered vessels in Florida, the marine industry has made environmental education a priority and a key step towards safeguarding the state's natural resources. In response, the Clean Boating Partnership developed the Clean Marina Program to protect Florida's waterways. So far, 186 marinas have achieved the challenging Clean Marina designation. The program requires annual reviews of environmental and safety procedures at each designated marina.
"The Clean Boating Partnership applauds the Hamilton Harbor Yacht CLub for its commitment to Florida's environment," said the Partnership's chair Mark Leslie. "Their dedication and hard work in becoming a Clean Marina, as well as their history of mentoring other marinas, is an accomplishment they can be proud of. We welcome to the Clean Marina family."
Environmental stewardship has long been a top priority for Hamilton Harbor's developer Collier Enterprises. "In addition to meeting the standards of the Clean Marina Program, we've preserved and enhanced 160 acres of natural wetlands, uplands, and one and a half miles of mangrove-lined waterfront along our location on the edge of Rookery Bay," said Pat Utter, vice president of real estate for Collier Enterprises. In partnership with the City of Naples, the company has also deepened the marina's entry channel and installed new signs and channel markers, measures that will help boaters avoid damaging sensitive sea grass beds in Naples Bay.
Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club is located less than ten minutes from Gordon Pass and offers wet slips for boats up to 60 feet and dry storage for boats up to 50 feet. Already known for its relaxed atmosphere and exceptional concierge services, the new club features a waterfront restaurant and a concrete boathouse that can withstand winds up to 150 mph. Boat slip and social members enjoy a full range of amenities and activities including dining, nautical and nature programs and social events. Boaters also enjoy discounted fuel, access to professional captain's services and on-board catering.