Harbour Cove Marina in Deale is striving to protect the resource that supports the recreational boating industry in Maryland: clean water. By signing the Clean Marina Pledge, manager William J. Redman has committed to do his part to "keep Maryland's waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients, and debris." Harbour Cove is the 70th boating facility in Maryland to have taken the Clean Marina Pledge.

To fulfill the Clean Marina pledge, each marina operator will implement measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage disposal; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; stormwater runoff; and facilities management.

Signing the Clean Marina Pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally-responsible marina through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Clean Marina Initiative (CMI). CMI promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas and recreational boats. To achieve full standing as a Clean Marina, marina operators must adopt a number of the recommendations in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. The guidebook provides a comprehensive review of pollution prevention measures. Recognized clean marinas may use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising and on their letterhead. They receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site (www.dnr.state.md.us/boating), and promotion in Clean Marina publications. The goal of the program is to certify 25 percent of Maryland's 600 marinas as Clean Marinas by 2004. To date, seven marinas have been certified as Clean Marinas. Boaters are encouraged to patronize Maryland's Clean Marinas.