On 17 July, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) formally welcomed Hoosier Hills Marina into the Indiana Clean Marina Program during a ceremony held at the marina in Celestine.
IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods praised the marina’s efforts in meeting the programme’s environmental standards, noting its significance within the local boating community.
“I am pleased to welcome Hoosier Hills Marina into the Clean Marina Program. The programme began in northwest Indiana and has grown successfully throughout the state thanks to agency outreach efforts. Hoosier Hills is the first marina on Patoka Lake to become a member of the programme. Their investment and hard work to become a member set a high standard for other marinas to help Hoosier boaters have fun and protect water quality,” Woods stated.
Hoosier Hills Marina was recognised for exceeding environmental requirements designed to safeguard Indiana’s waterways. The marina’s upgrades have addressed education, maintenance, spill prevention and waste management.
To ensure proper fuel handling practices, the marina educated staff on techniques, eliminated fuel nozzle holding clips and installed fuel bibs to capture drips. A new 12,000 gallon above-ground fuel tank was positioned above high-water levels, with spill response supplies placed at points on the dock and within the workshop. The fuelling dock remains locked outside of operational hours, and portable fuel containers are prohibited on docks.
As part of its recycling efforts, the marina invested in bins for both staff and customer use and arranged regular pickup through a local disposal service. Staff were trained to monitor and sort the contents to avoid contamination of recyclables.
To address pet waste, dedicated disposal stations were placed at the end of each dock. Additional signage was installed to discourage feeding wildlife, fishing from the docks and improper disposal of fish waste.
Educational efforts are ongoing, with information distributed through printed materials, digital communications and posted regulations to inform both staff and visitors of boating practices.
Situated in a cove on the western end of Patoka Lake, Hoosier Hills Marina provides moorings and slips for over 300 vessels ranging from six-metre (20ft) pontoons to houseboats. The marina also offers rentals, including pontoon boats, Waverunners, kayaks and paddleboards.
The Indiana Clean Marina Program was established to help reduce the environmental footprint of marinas and recreational boating. Managed through a collaborative partnership among IDEM, the Department of Natural Resources and industry stakeholders, the initiative offers guidance and resources to marinas looking to adopt cleaner and safer practices.
