This agreement funds the recipient's beach monitoring and notification program for the upcoming swimming season, including meeting criteria established by the beaches environmental assessment and…

The Illinois Department of Public Health received a $232,000 formula grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The grant funds the department's beach monitoring and public notification program for Illinois recreational beaches during the upcoming swimming season, with activities designed to meet performance criteria established by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act. Key deliverables include water quality monitoring data submissions, public notification actions, and an annual summary report to EPA. The program operates by monitoring pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria at designated recreational beaches, issuing public advisories and beach closures when water quality levels exceed established thresholds, and providing residents and tourists with bacteriological information to make informed decisions about beach safety.

The Chicago Park District serves as the primary sub-grantee, with responsibility for collecting daily water samples and analyzing Enterococci at 18 Chicago Park District beaches using EPA Method 1609.1, with the University of Illinois at Chicago functioning as a subcontractor for analytical services. The program's objective is to reduce swimmer illness by ensuring timely public notification of water quality threats, benefiting all residents and tourists who visit Illinois beaches. The award aligns with national beach guidance standards and includes opportunities for public review and comment on program operations and modifications.

This agreement funds the recipient's beach monitoring and notification program for the upcoming swimming season, including meeting criteria established by the beaches environmental assessment and coastal health act to remain eligible for the beach grant. IT funds the recipient's efforts to monitor water quality at designated recreational beaches in illinois and to notify the public when the waters exceed the beach notification threshold value for fecal indicator bacteria or any other pathogen indicators used by the program.activities:the activities to be performed include monitoring water quality for pathogens at recreational bathing beaches, notifying the public of the sample results and risks, issuing advisories or beach closures when water quality levels are exceeded, submitting information to EPA, and providing the public opportunities to review and comment on the program, especially whenever significant changes are made to the program. The recipient's program will be consistent with national beach guidance published at the time of grant award.subrecipient:funding to health departments to monitor beaches and notify the public of any health threats.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include submissions of water quality monitoring data, public notification actions, and an annual summary report. The objective of the program is to reduce swimmer illness by providing the public with bacteriological information so they can make informed decisions about which beaches to visit. The beneficiaries of the program include all residents and tourists that visit the beaches.