By Julia Robins, Staff Writer
On August 14, Top Rack Marina of Chesapeake, VA was awarded Clean Marina designation. Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Virginia Sea Grant are proud partners in the Virginia Clean Marina Program, which recognizes marinas that voluntarily take measures to prevent or reduce pollution at their facilities.
While many marinas make these changes over time, Top Rack “was pretty much turn-key ready,” says Anne Smith, Clean Marina Specialist and Virginia Institute of Marine Science extension staff affiliated with Virginia Sea Grant.
Since its opening in 2008, Top Rack has incorporated a number of environmentally friendly features. The marina treats all of its storm water in retention basins to remove debris, retains wetlands to provide marine habitat, and grows oysters to filter the river water. Top Rack also uses a dumpster for any waste produced at its fish cleaning station and provides recycling for oil, fuel, aluminum, glass, and plastic.
When asked why it was important to achieve Clean Marina designation, Brian D. McKown, manager of Top Rack, responds simply: “Our business depends on the water. We don’t want to ruin that with bad business practices.”
Located along the Elizabeth River, Top Rack is currently host to 250 dry slips and plans to expand in the near future. Including Top Rack, there are now 74 Clean Marinas in Virginia.
