The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $1.3 million to six states for water quality monitoring grants along Great Lakes shores.
Last week, the EPA office in Chicago announced awards to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Those awards average out to more than $200,000 per state.
The EPA also awarded $150,000 to Midwestern indigenous communities to monitor water quality at beaches. The grants went to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa.
The grants will allow tribes to provide improved water quality monitoring of local beaches, helping protect swimmers.
“By expanding on the water science and sharing up-to-date information with swimmers, communities can protect cultural lifestyles, boost economies and provide families the confidence to visit beaches safely,” said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel.
The BEACH Act grants support beach and recreation areas along the Great Lakes shores. The funding helps communities monitor water conditions and alert the public to potential health risks from contaminated water.
The awards represent a significant investment in protecting public health and supporting tourism economies that depend on clean, safe beaches. Water quality monitoring helps identify bacterial contamination and other hazards that could pose risks to swimmers and beachgoers.
In addition to the $150,000 awarded to the three Native American tribes, the state grants totaling $1.3 million will enhance monitoring capabilities across the region. Learn more about the BEACH Act grants here.
