Project Grant 00E99315

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) program, provides $273,850.00 to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MDEGLE) to fund the state's beach monitoring and public notification program.

The grant will support MDEGLE's efforts to monitor water quality at designated recreational beaches in Michigan and notify the public when water quality exceeds bacterial thresholds. Key activities include bacteriological water quality monitoring, public notification and risk communication of sample results, measures to notify the EPA, and a public evaluation component. MDEGLE will provide sub-awards to relevant county health departments to implement the beach monitoring and public notification process at the local level. The anticipated deliverables include water quality monitoring data, public notification actions, and an annual summary report. The overall objective is to reduce swimmer illness by providing the public with timely and accurate information to make informed decisions about which beaches to visit.