June 9, 2004

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester are pleased to announce that a total of $61,882.43 from the Clean Michigan Initiative-Clean Water Fund will be awarded to eight applicants to monitor inland public beaches for E. coli. Grant recipients received either full or partial funding for their beach monitoring proposal and will post their beach monitoring data on the DEQ Beach Monitoring Web site at www.deq.state.mi.us/beach/.

“As we enter into Michigan’s tourism season, it becomes even more important for us to keep our beaches safe,” said Governor Jennifer Granholm. “This money will ensure that they are safe, and remain that way.”

Recipients are:

• The Chippewa County Health Department was awarded $5,759.02 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Chippewa County.
• District Health Department #4 was awarded $9,800.01 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties.
• The Muskegon County Health Department was awarded $1,369 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Muskegon County.
• The Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency was awarded $8,440 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Antrim, Charlevoix, Otsego, and Emmet Counties.
• The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay was awarded $7,736.34 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Counties.
• The Wayne County Health Department was awarded $15,235.50 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Wayne County.
• The Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department was awarded $9,114.56 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon Counties.
• The Wexford County Drain Commission was awarded $4,428 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Wexford County.

The DEQ expects to award an additional $38,000 in grant funding for inland beaches monitoring in the near future.

“The DEQ is pleased to be able to partner with communities in this manner,” said DEQ Director Chester. “This gives local health departments the needed funds to conduct these important tests, and ultimately helps us achieve our goal of keeping Michigan safe and healthy.”

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised June 9, 2004 by Pat Watson