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…

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded the Ohio Department of Health $219,000 under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This project grant funds the development and implementation of a comprehensive beach monitoring and public notification program for Ohio's recreational beaches during the upcoming swimming season. The program will conduct bacteriological water quality monitoring at designated recreational bathing beaches, assess samples against pathogenic indicator bacteria thresholds established under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, and issue public advisories or beach closures when water quality exceedances are detected. The recipient will also maintain a public notification system, submit monitoring data to EPA, and coordinate risk communication activities to ensure swimmers can make informed decisions about beach safety.

The anticipated deliverables include submission of water quality monitoring data, documentation of public notification actions, and an annual summary report. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement. The program's primary objective is to reduce swimmer illness by providing bacteriological water quality information to all residents and tourists visiting Ohio's beaches, consistent with National Beach Guidance standards in effect at the time of award.

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 the state of ohio 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 monitoring and notification program will consist of bacteriological water quality monitoring at recreational bathing beaches, public notification and risk communication of the sample results, measures to notify EPA, and a public evaluation component. The grantee will notify the public of a water quality exceedance by issuing an advisory or closure. This program will be consistent with national beach guidance published at the time of grant award.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include submissions of water quality monitoring data and 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 attend. Beneficiaries of the program include all residents and tourists that visit the beaches.