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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Gov. Inslee signs bridge-access bill

Gov. Inslee signs bridge-access bill

SEATTLE – March 29, 2016 – Paddlers in the Northwest could benefit from a bill signed Friday that requires the Washington Department of Transportation to consider access to the water when building or refurbishing bridges.

Senate Bill 6363 hopes to improve public access at bridge right-of-ways by requiring the state to include a formal evaluation of opportunities for water access within the public right-of-way on future bridge projects.

“When a bridge is constructed, it represents an important opportunity to evaluate how the public is using the site for river access and identify opportunities to both improve public safety and enhance the quality of the user experience,” said Thomas O’Keefe of American Whitewater.

The Bill was introduced in the fall of 2014 following a recommendation from the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force to address access to recreational opportunities. Based on a similar provision in the California State Highway Code, the bill passed the full Senate on March 5, 2015. However, due to issues with the bill language, the bill failed to make it out of the Rules Committee when time ran out for the 2015 legislative session.


On January 8, 2016, the bill was re-introduced by American Whitewater and the Northwest Marine Trade Association. With revised language approved by the House Transportation Committee and Washington Dept. of Transportation, the bill was passed by the Senate on Feb.17 with a unanimous 49-0 vote and the House with a 58-39 vote on March 3, 2016.

"This is a big deal for our friends in the paddling community," said Peter Schrappen, Northwest Marine Trade Association's Vice President who was the lead on the bill. "Unfortunately, our state's department of transportation has periodically built bridges and wiped out access to the water. An example of this occurred on Highway 2 over the Wenatchee River. While this doesn't always happen, this bill provides a safeguard for us."

 In Washington state, approximately 11 percent of the state’s population participates in non-motorized boating. This number grows every year and bridge construction represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to include access to the water in its design.

 For more information on this Bill, visit http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6363&year=2015



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Contact
Peter Schrappen
NMTA Director of Government Affairs
(206) 634-0911

peter@nmta.net

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Friday, March 25, 2016

Paddlesport Summit - May 5

Paddlesport Summit at Seattle REI
5:30-9:00 p.m.  - Thursday May 5

(Before the event, at 11:30am or 12:00pm, WWTA and state agencies start tabling to provide info and talk with those who come in the store that day and have paddlers take State Park's Paddling survey on iPads)

5:30-7:00 p.m. attendees can shop at the REI store (using an REI coupon provided to those attending the event) and WWTA/state agencies continue tabling to provide info and talk with attendees and have attendees take State Park's Paddling survey on iPads

7:00-8:00 p.m. presenters:

1.       Kick off speaker - TBA
2.       Jon Snyder – Governor’s Director of Outdoor Initiatives (10 mins)
3.       Sky to Sound Water Trail presentation – Snohomish County, Annique Bennett (12 mins)  
4.       State Parks Water Access slideshow of paddlesport pictures from 67 state parks (12 mins)
5.       Washington State Parks and Paddlesports Committee (10 mins)


8:00-9:00 p.m. attendees can continue to shop at REI, talk with state agencies

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Register now for the 2016 Northwest Paddling Festival, May 6-7

Interested in exhibiting at the 2016 Northwest Paddling Festival? 
Click here for the 2016 Exhibitor Registration Packet

Note: The above packet may take a few moments to open/download.

Attention non-profits!
Earn a free 10×10 booth by bringing in six volunteers to the event volunteer pool (this is in addition to your specific booth needs). Fill out the Exhibitor Registration Packet and in the payment area write in “Trade for volunteers”. We’ll follow up with you!
For questions, please contact the Northwest Marine Trade Association office at info@northwestpaddlingfestival.com or call 206-634-0911.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

Marine Permit Meeting - Wednesday, March 16



U.S. Coast Guard Marine Permit Meeting
6:30 - 8:00 pm 
Wednesday March 16 at the 48° North office

48° North will be hosting its annual meeting between the Coast Guard and organizations planning to conduct a marine event in the Puget Sound area. Marine event permits are required for any event that meets one or more of the following criteria:
  • The event takes place on or near navigable waters of the US.
  • The event takes place in or near an area designated as environmentally sensitive .
  • The event involves inherently hazardous competition (example speed boat race with vessels traveling greater than 30 mph).
  • The event could cause any obstruction to a navigable channel or change customary presence of commercial vessels.


The purpose of this meeting is to allow event organizers the opportunity to meet face to face with the members of the Coast Guard that administer marine permitting in sector Puget Sound. The Coast Guard will present a program covering who must have a permit, why the permits are required and how to obtain and file the proper forms, followed by a question and answer session. There is typically time to informally meet with the Coast Guard crew after the question and answer session. Please drop by the 48° North office (6327 Seaview Ave. NW – behind West Marine) any time after 6:00 to mingle with other event organizers and the 48° North staff. The presentation will begin at 6:30.

RSVP encouraged but not required – joe@48north.com,  michael@48north.com or call 206-789-7350




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Friday, March 04, 2016

Take advantage of NMEA training April 13-15 at NMTA









Outstanding Training opportunities offered by the NMEA
April 13/14/15
Seattle, WA!

Location:
Northwest Marine Trade Association
1900 N. Northlake Way, # 233
Seattle, WA 98103-9087
Phone:  206-634-0911206-634-0911

Basic Marine Electronics Installer, Wednesday, April 13th

NMEA2000 Training, Thursday, April 14th

Advanced Marine Electronics Installer, Friday, April 15th

The courses run from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with an exam given at the end of the session.  Lunch is provided. Pre-registration is required.  Please visit our website at www.nmea.org to register.
 

Course materials are sent out in advance, please sign up early.


We hope to see you there!

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Port of Port Townsend seeks new Executive Director

While we are excited for the Port of Port Townsend’s Director Larry Crockett and his upcoming retirement, we are jealously a bit sad that Larry will not be as engaged with our association as he has been.

As the Port looks for a new director, they have reached out to us for help in getting the word out.

Here’s their job description:

The Port of Port Townsend, Port Townsend, WA, seeks an engaging, accomplished leader to guide the efforts of one of the nation’s premier and diverse maritime destinations.

The Executive Director spearheads economic development in Jeff­erson County on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The ED oversees three marinas, a renowned marine trades industrial area at the Port Townsend Boat Haven, the Jeff­erson County International Airport and industrial park, a waterfront RV park at Point Hudson Marina, boat launches at several sites around eastern Jeff­erson County, and Union Wharf and City Dock in downtown Port Townsend.

Home to many of the best boat repair craftsmen and women in the world, the festival-‑filled Victorian seaport of Port Townsend and our facilities combine to make us the very best recreation and boat maintenance choice in the Puget Sound region.

Completed application packets are due no later than April 1, 2016.

Selections for interviews will be made the first week of April; the Port will notify interviewees at that time. All applicant information will be held in confidence until such time the applicant finalists are chosen. Those individuals will be expected to participate in a public forum for introduction before Port stake holders, the general public, and the media.

For the complete Executive Director application packet, please visit www.portofpt.com/ed
Inquiries: Executive Director Larry Crockett or Director of Finance/Port Auditor Abigail Berg at (360) 385-0656.


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