Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) administers the Clean Vessel Act Grant Program with federal funds provided through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA). The program supports CPW’s broader mission of protecting wildlife resources while expanding sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities across the state.
The grant’s primary objective is to curb the discharge of untreated sewage from recreational motorboats by helping marina concessionaires and other facility operators upgrade or replace pump-out stations at Colorado reservoirs. By improving these facilities, the program reduces the likelihood of improper waste disposal, protecting water quality and safeguarding aquatic wildlife from pathogens and nutrient loading.
Funding is offered on a reimbursable basis. Federal CVA dollars may cover up to seventy-five percent of eligible project costs; applicants must contribute at least twenty-five percent in non-federal cash or verified in-kind services.
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All projects must remain publicly accessible, demonstrate cost-effectiveness, and be maintained in good working order for a minimum of ten years after installation.
Eligible applicants include “third-party” entities such as local government agencies, park and recreation departments, and water districts that operate or oversee pump-out facilities at motorboat reservoirs. Proposed projects must be located within Colorado and serve recreational boaters.
The application pathway begins with contacting the appropriate CPW area staff to discuss project concepts and obtain preliminary approval. Once endorsed, applicants submit a formal CVA grant application detailing scope, budget, match commitments, and long-term maintenance plans.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Completed proposals are evaluated by an interagency review panel that scores projects on public benefit, technical soundness, cost efficiency, and applicant capacity for long-term stewardship. Successful applicants execute a contract with CPW and receive reimbursement for eligible expenses as work is completed.
