Beach Grants

BEACH Act grants are awarded to eligible coastal and Great Lakes states, territories, and tribes to develop and implement beach monitoring and notification programs. During each swimming season, state and local health and environmental protection agencies monitor the quality of water at the nation’s beaches. When bacteria levels in the water are too high, these agencies notify the public by posting beach warnings or closing the beach. The grants help local authorities monitor beach water quality and notify the public of conditions that may be unsafe for swimming.

EPA has awarded nearly $149 million in grants for the beach monitoring and notification programs since it started awarding grants in 2002.

Fiscal Year Grant Total
2016 $9,462,000
2015 $9,486,640
2014 $9,549,000
2013 $9,349,000
2012 $9,864,000
The grants are allocated based on three factors: (1) the length of the beach season, (2) shoreline miles, and (3) coastal county population. The grant allocation formula was first announced in the Federal Register on March 31, 2003 (see 68 FR 15446) with a supplemental allocation formula published on January 11, 2010 (see 75 FR 1373). For a breakdown of how the grant totals were allocated among EPA Regions, states, territories, and tribes, see:

Information Collection Request on Grant Reporting Requirements

Every two years, the EPA updates the reporting requirements for the BEACH Act Grants Information Collection Request (ICR). As a grant condition, grant recipients are required to collect and submit beach monitoring and notification information to the EPA. Collection of this information allows the EPA to evaluate the extent to which grant recipients fulfill the requirements of the BEACH Act.

Additional Information

Top of Page