Glen Burnie Marina Certified as Maryland Clean Marina

Nabbs Creek Marina Met Voluntary Criteria

Patrick Riordan of Nabbs Creek Marina

An Anne Arundel County marina recently earned its Maryland Clean Marina Award and certification following an inspection from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Nabbs Creek Marina in Glen Burnie met all the department’s environmental regulatory requirements as well as voluntary criteria, bringing the total number of clean marinas and partners in the state to 149. Twenty-nine percent of Anne Arundel County marinas are certified as clean.

“It is encouraging to see so many Maryland small businesses take up the mantle of a cleaner and healthier Chesapeake Bay,” Program Manager Donna Morrow said. “These conservation-minded, environmentally-savvy managers and owners are better serving their customers while also doing their part to improve water quality.”

Participating boatyards, marinas and yacht clubs are evaluated on areas such emergency preparedness, stormwater management and waste containment and disposal. To pass, a facility must score between 75-85 percent in each area by implementing best practices found in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. Each clean marina is re-inspected every three years to ensure continued compliance.

At Nabbs Creek Marina, manager Patrick Riordan provides comingled recycling and posted new signs outlining dozens of ways boaters can prevent pollution while on board.

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative was developed in 1998 by a committee of boatyard and marina operators and owners, state and local government agencies, academics, and boating representatives and stakeholders with the goal of reducing non-point source pollution from marine facilities and recreational boats. Boaters are encouraged to participate in the program by signing the Maryland Clean Boater Pledge.