Boating Access Grants

About

The Boating Access Grant Program provides 75% matching fund grant assistance to plan and  construct new, or renovate existing, public boat ramps that provide public access to public waters for recreational boating.  The State Boating Access Program receives funding from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. Funds for the federal program are derived from the federal gasoline tax generated by sales of gasoline for recreational motorboats and a federal excise tax on the sales of fishing tackle and trolling motors

Who We Fund

This grant program provides 75% matching grant funds for the planning and construction of public boat ramp facilities throughout Texas. Local government sponsors must make an application, provide the land, provide access to the proposed boat ramp, supply 25% of the planning and development costs, and accept operation and maintenance responsibilities for a minimum 25-year period.

Program assistance will be in the form of a Phase I – Planning grant and subsequently a Phase II – Construction Grant. The local sponsor must be willing to assume all maintenance responsibilities, including grass mowing and weed control, litter/refuse pick-up and removal, signage maintenance, security surveillance, plus necessary repairs and renovations, as needed, to insure public use and safety.

What We Fund

Phase I – Planning Grant

• Plans and specifications
• Environmental /cultural permits
• Texas Historical Commission permit
• USACE Permit
• Texas Department of Licensing Permit
• Other professional fees required to begin construction of eligible costs
  
  

Eligible Construction Costs include:

• Breakwaters
• Launching facilities such as ramps and boat lifts
• Loading docks
• Fish cleaning stations
• Restrooms
• Parking areas associated with the access facilities
• Camping facilities at areas accessible only by boat (must be accessible to motorboats)
• Access roads that lead directly to the boating access facilities
• Retaining walls to protect integrity of boat ramps and associated parking lots
• Dredging, stump removal, and aquatic weed control when part of the overall project
• Permanent Signage

When We Fund

Sponsors requesting assistance for new boating access facilities must submit a Phase I – Planning Grant application, up to $250,000 in matching funds, to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and have it approved. Once planning activities are complete and FWS has issued a Notice to Proceed, organizations will be given an opportunity to submit a Phase II – Construction Grant  prior to any construction activities for which assistance is requested. Recommendations to fund individual projects are typically announced sometime during May of each year.

This is a reimbursement program where  the sponsor is required to initially pay for project expenditures which later are to be reimbursed by the State. It will be necessary for the sponsor to keep careful financial records and submit adequate proof of payment to receive reimbursement for eligible project expenditures. Due to the utilization of federal funds for this program, the State and subrecipients will be required to meet financial standards of The Department.

 Phase II – Construction grants  will be reimbursed up to a 95% of the grant amount until a final inspection and audit are completed. (5% of the grant amount will be withheld pending final inspection and approval of the project.).