DBW-50thAnnBook-PROOF

M A K I NG A D I F F E R E NC E F OR B OA T E R S

Bill Curry is a civil engineer who worked for Cal Boating for 35 years and then retired – for all of three weeks! Since 2002, Bill has served as a retired annuitant, working two days a week. His primary areas of responsibility have been boat launching facility grants and marina loans. The department has made grants to cities, counties, districts, and federal agencies since the early 1960s. Cal Boating has funded more than 400 of these facilities in the past 50 years, creating increased public access to coastal water ways, inland lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. The department has also made loans available to public agencies for marinas since 1957. “We’ve provided the financial assistance to help make the building of many public boat launching facilities and marinas possible,” explains Bill. Cal Boating is involved from the “nuts and bolts” of the facility planning stage to working with designers and contractors, right through to the ribbon cutting ceremony. Recipients of both the grant and loan funds enter into long-term contracts to operate and maintain the projects. Bill has watched the successful process unfold many times. The City of Petaluma Boat Launching Facility was the first grant project that Bill worked on for Cal Boating, back in 1968-1969, and he loves his job as much as ever today. “It’s really a treat to be able to play Santa Claus,” he says.

Bill Curry Civil Engineer and Supervising Civil Engineer, 1968–2002 Retired Annuitant, 2002–present

1957

California’s boating community, desiring a state boating agency and development of “harbors and refuge” for coastal safety, successfully helps pass legislation establishing “Division of Small Craft Harbors” in Department of Natural Resources.

New law also establishes Small Craft Harbors Commission and allows division to make loans to cities, counties and districts for planning and constructing small craft harbors. The legislation, signed by Governor Goodwin J. Knight, becomes effective September 11, 1957!

First small craft harbor loan is provided to Los Angeles County for infrastructure development of Marina del Rey, which becomes the largest man-made recreational harbor in the world.

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50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007