The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the…

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Department of Parks & Recreation Idaho $1,605,043 under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012) on October 1, 2025. The award funds boating safety activities in Idaho through September 30, 2028.

Eligible uses of the award include providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement; training personnel in boating safety and enforcement; delivering public boating safety education to the boating community and public schools; acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters; conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities and services; establishing and maintaining waterway markers and aids to navigation; and providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.

This is a formula grant under the National Recreational Boating Safety Program, which aims to encourage state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts and permit states to assume a greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities.

The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Federal funds provided for a state's boating safety program may be used for any of the following expenses. 1. Providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair. 2. Training personnel in skills related to boating safety and to the enforcement of boating safety laws and regulations. 3. Providing public boating safety education, including educational programs and lectures, to the boating community and the public school system. 4. Acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters. 5. Conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations. 6. Establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities, and providing emergency or search and rescue assistance. 7. Establishing and maintaining waterway markers and other appropriate aids to navigation. 8. Providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.