The San Juan Island Community Foundation has generously agreed to match 50 cents for every dollar raised until the goal of $5,000 is met at this year’s county fair to help fund the needs of the San Juan County Derelict Vessel Prevention Program. This is an exciting opportunity for this valuable program to continue its important work of keeping our county waters free from these environmental and navigational time-bombs.

The problem of aging, abandoned and derelict vessels has plagued Washington state waters for years. Many of the vessels that were built at the beginning of the recreational boating boom after World War II are now past their useful life and have been left intentionally or carelessly anchored in many of the bays and harbors that are part of San Juan County’s 620 square miles. Unfortunately, there are more than a few that think there exists a mystical vessel graveyard where boats magically go and disappear. The truth is different.

In 2002, Washington state created the Derelict Vessel Removal Program, which has proven to be very successful, removing hundreds of sunken vessels over the years.

In 2012, a corollary program known as the Derelict Vessel Prevention Program was created by San Juan County, but only funded during 2013-2015 by an EPA/PSP grant. The idea was to take the removal program one step further and be even more proactive in identifying and removing beforehand those vessels that had a high probability of sinking in the foreseeable future. This “preventative medicine” saved over $100,000 of taxpayers’ money. The reality was, having a vessel towed and demolished before sinking averaged a little more than $100 per foot. No vessels sank during the grant period. Sinkings before averaged four to six times a year. Had a vessel sunk the cost would have been over $1,000 per foot to recover the vessel. As you can see the savings achieved were meaningful. Unfortunately, the prevention grant was not renewed. Local budgetary constraints also prevented alternative funding even when the savings were not in dispute. Thankfully, limited private donations have enabled the DVPP to continue operating, but not at the level necessary to monitor the more than 30 vessels that are currently of concern in local waters. This situation has been further compounded by a substantial cut in the Department of Natural Resources’ funds available for the removal program.

Thus, with less money available for removal, and limited funds for the San Juan County Prevention Program, the potential exists for a perfect storm resulting in an increase in the number of vessels that end up on the bottom.

A fully funded Derelict Vessel Prevention Program could be implemented for $25,000 per year. The prevention of the sinking of just one 25 foot vessel a year would pay for the prevention program. The long term goal is $100,000 to secure funding for the next four years. By that time it is hoped the state legislature, which is aware of the problem, will secure long term funding.

Until that happens, as coordinator of the Derelict Vessel Prevention Program for San Juan County, I urge you to help the DVPP begin to regain its ability to keep our waters clean and safe for navigation by contributing during the county fair (Aug. 17-20), to the San Juan Island Community Foundation’s County Fair Matching Funds Program for the DVPP.

After the fair tax deductible donations can still be made to The San Juan County Auditor’s Office P.O. Box 639 Friday Harbor, WA. 98250.