Why Monitor Beaches?

Before the BEACH Program, Washington State did not have a consistent monitoring program. The BEACH Program was developed as a response to the BEACH Act, which was passed by the US Congress in 2000. The Act amends the Clean Water Act by authorizing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to appropriate funds to states to develop monitoring and notification programs. These programs will provide a more uniform system for protecting the users of marine waters. The Washington State Department of Ecology received the first grant in 2002.  EPA has supported 100 percent of the funding through the present.