Page 12 - NCWRC_BiennialReport_2011-12_NoCS.indd

NCWRC boating programs assure access to our waterways so that all North Carolina residents and visitors can enjoy this spectacular resource. Safe, aesthetically pleasing and plentiful docks, piers and navigational aids help to make boating experiences user-friendly, fun and relaxing.

• Southwick Associates fshing surveys (2008) indicate that the chief concern among fshermen is the need for improved or additional access to inland and coastal waters. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has made a concentrated effort to meet that concern.

• We conducted a statewide survey to determine boating access needs. NCWRC worked with the Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. General Assembly on legislation that resulted in the approval of $20 Million in Water Access and Marine Industry funds for acquisition and construction of boating and waterfront projects. It also spearheaded an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation that made it possible for DOT and NCWRC to work together on access areas at bridge crossings throughout the state.

• NCWRC has designed a user-friendly online and mobile device interactive mapping system of all boating access areas in the state and implemented a funding plan to upgrade all access areas within a fve-year period. And NCWRC has renovated or constructed nearly 70 boating access sites in the past four years.

Here is a summary of a few more of our activities on behalf of the boating community:

BOATING ACCESS AREAS IN N.C.

Boating services provided by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are some of our most popular activi-ties. NCWRC boating access areas can provide vessel launching ramps and courtesy docks; restrooms and security lighting; parking areas, access roads and walkways; dock signage and

CONSERVATION PAYS OFF IN

BOATING

ACTIVITIES

waterway navigational signs. The Commission maintains a database of statewide water access locations. We also issue fshing tournament weigh-in and special use permits for each Boating Access Area.

We also manage the Wildlife Inmate Services program in partnership with N.C. Department of Corrections, using inmate labor to build signs, docks, and grow native horticulture products used at boating and fshing areas. These products help stan-dardize the look and feel of all NCWRC public boating areas. The program also sells these products to local governments furthering the Commission’s goals and objectives.

NCWRC boating services involve

• A work area of 35,790 square miles of water in all 100 counties.

• Registering 135,000 vessels annually with over 350,000 registered boats in N.C. waters.

• Providing safety instruction to operators and enforcing boating laws.

• Partnering with nearly 150 local municipalities to build and maintain over 200 free public boating access areas and to provide over 1,400 buoys and navigational aids. • We maintain 76 public fshing areas and we issue fshing tournament weigh-in permits, statewide.

• We provide services and assistance to N.C. State Parks and the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

From one of our stakeholders:

“One branch of our government that shows the taxpayer exactly how (where) our hard-earned money is going is the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Division of Engineering Services.

10 • North Carol ina Wi ldl i fe Resources Commi ss ion