EPA Provides $150,000 to Alaska to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers

May 21, 2026

SEATTLE (May 21, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  is announcing $150,000 in grant funding that Alaska will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.

“EPA is investing in clean water for everyone in Alaska,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon. “With these funds in place, residents in communities across Alaska will be better informed about the water quality of their recreational beaches.”

This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA’s goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.

Learn more about BEACH Act grants.

Before heading to the beach, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program for closing or advisory information.

 Background

To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach program. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties.