Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Monday 15 grants totaling $440,900 awarded by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to improve boating access to the public waters of Virginia. Identified as a need in Virginia’s Outdoors Plan, these new and improved boating access sites will help boaters access the bountiful public waters of the Commonwealth.
“These projects assist localities with projects that provide enhanced access to recreational opportunities of state waters,” said McDonnell. “These new recreational opportunities will benefit Virginia business and tourism.”
“The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is to be commended for initiating this partnership with localities to increase access,” said Doug Domenech, Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources. “The boating public – both motorized and non-motorized – will be well served by these grants.”
“This is not a new program for the Department, but one that needed reinvigorating,” said Bob Duncan, Director for the Department. “The Department was having trouble finding suitable locations for new boating access points, but adding the eyes and ears of over 100 local governments generated a number of excellent locations where access can be constructed or improved. We look forward to continuing and expanding this program.”
Under the program, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cost-shares with the local government to provide the new sites and improve existing ones. After entering into a cooperative agreement with the Department, the local government provides the designs, constructs the projects, and agrees to keep them maintained and open to the public for a period of 20 or more years. Funds for these grants come from the Department’s Boat Fund and the federal Sport Fish Restoration Fund. The Boat Fund is generated from fees for titling and registering boats as well as the transfer of watercraft sales and use fees. The federal Sport Fish Restoration Fund is based primarily on the number of fishing licenses sold.
According to a recently released economic impact study, the Virginia recreational boating industry employs more than 9,000 people statewide and contributes $2 billion to the Virginia economy annually. There are 250,000 registered motorboats statewide and 23,000 in the localities receiving these grants. The grants totaling $440,900 will generate construction projects estimated to be worth $839,000.
The following list provides the project name, partnering organization, and funding for the 15 approved grants:
Small Hand-Launch Category
Name of Project: Clifton Forge Site
Name of Locality: Town of Clifton Forge
Name of Water Served: Jackson River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant award: $10,000
Name of Project: Covington Site
Name of Locality: City of Covington
Name of Water Served: Jackson River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Farmers Market Site
Name of Locality: City of Emporia
Name of Water Served: Meherrin River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Glasgow Site
Name of Locality: Town of Glasgow
Name of Water Served: James River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Lynch Memorial Park Site
Name of Locality: Franklin County
Name of Water Served: Pigg River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Port Royal Site
Name of Locality: Town of Port Royal
Name of Water Served: Rappahannock River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Snodgrass Ford Site
Name of Locality: Lee County
Name of Water Served: Powell River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Stoney Bottom Site
Name of Locality: Warren County
Name of Water Served: Shenandoah River, South Fork
Description of Project: Improvement of existing Non-Power Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Swinging Bridge Site
Name of Locality: Lee County
Name of Water Served: Powell River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Name of Project: Waid Recreation Area Site
Name of Locality: Franklin County
Name of Water Served: Pigg River
Description of Project: Non-Powered Canoe/Kayak Launch
Grant Award: $10,000
Medium Powerboat Category
Name of Project: Farms Riverview Site
Name of Locality: Warren County
Name of Water Served: Shenandoah River
Description of Project: Development of Concrete Boat Ramp & Parking
Grant Award: $50,000
Name of Project: Rens Road Site
Name of Locality: City of Poquoson
Name of Water Served: Chesapeake Bay
Description of Project: Complete Renovation of Boat Ramp and Courtesy Pier
Grant Award: $50,000
Large Powerboat Category
Name of Project: Bluff City Site
Name of Locality: Town of Pearisburg
Name of Water Served: New River
Description of Project: Development of Concrete Ramp & 30 space Parking
Grant Award: $78,750
Name of Project: Town Ramp Site
Name of Locality: Town of Urbanna
Name of Water Served: Rappahannock River
Description of Project: Complete Demolition & Rebuild – Concrete Boat Ramp
Grant Award: $78,750
Name of Project: Whitt River-bend Site
Name of Locality: Town of Pearisburg
Name of Water Served: New River
Description of Project: Development of Concrete Ramp & 30 space parking
Grant Award: $83,400
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