EPA announces $9.7 million in grant funding for water quality monitoring at coastal and Great Lakes beaches
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 23, 2025, $9.7 million in grant funding that states, Tribes and territories will use to monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches to notify the public if elevated levels of illness-causing bacteria make swimming unsafe.
“Millions of Americans will travel to the beach this summer to relax or play in the water. They will make lifelong memories and provide a boon to local economies,” said EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Peggy Browne in an EPA press release. “With $9.7 million from EPA, states and local authorities can help ensure that our beaches are open for business and that beachgoers can swim and splash without fear of getting sick.”
This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act.
EPA anticipates that it will award grants to the following eligible recipients after all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:
EPA Region 1
- Connecticut: $209,000
- Maine: $258,000
- Massachusetts: $258,000
- New Hampshire: $194,000
- Rhode Island: $214,000
"A clean and safe New England Coastline is an economic driver for the region," said EPA New England's Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn in an EPA press release. "Through collaborative efforts with state and local entities, EPA's BEACH Act funding will help protect New Englanders from getting sick, while ensuring that local economies, that rely on beachgoers, know what to expect."
EPA Region 2
- New Jersey: $266,000
- New York: $328,000
- Puerto Rico: $321,000
- S. Virgin Island: $126,000
“Beaches are the crown jewel of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and this funding will help them ensure that the beaches are open for business and that beachgoers can swim and splash without fear of getting sick,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci in an EPA press release. “These grants will help Puerto Rico and the USVI test and monitor to ensure that the public has the information it needs to enjoy a safe time on the beach.”
EPA Region 3
- Delaware: $210,000
- Maryland: $265,000
- Pennsylvania: $216,000
- Virginia: $271,000
"The Mid-Atlantic states boast beautiful coastlines that draw countless visitors to enjoy the waters and local attractions," said EPA Region 3 Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey in an EPA press release. "With this funding, EPA helps our regions’ beaches remain welcoming and safe and fulfills the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment.”
EPA Region 4
- Alabama: $261,000
- Florida: $499,000
- Georgia: $282,000
- Mississippi: $257,000
- North Carolina: $299,000
- South Carolina: $294,000
EPA Region 5
- Illinois: $236,000
- Indiana: $205,000
- Michigan: $267,000
- Minnesota: $204,000
- Ohio: $219,000
- Wisconsin: $222,000
EPA Region 6
- Louisiana: $359,000
- Texas: $382,000
“Ensuring the safety of beaches allows all Americans to have fun in the sun while providing an economic boost to coastal communities,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason in an EPA press release.
EPA Region 7
- No BEACH Act funding
EPA Region 8
- No BEACH Act funding
EPA Region 9
- California: $498,000
- Hawaii: $321,000
- American Samoa: $302,000
- Guam: $302,000
- Northern Mariana Islands: $303,000
EPA Region 10
- Alaska: $150,000
- Oregon: $221,000
- Washington: $268,000
Tribes
- Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians: $50,000
- Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe: $50,000
- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community: $50,000
- Makah Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation: $50,000
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community: $50,000