UPDATE: BEACH PROTECTION ACT

An amended proposal to reauthorize the federal BEACH Act(Beaches Environmental Assessment & Coastal Health) is now being considered by Congress. The bill would provide $40 million for states to monitor water quality at recreational beaches and encourage states to perform source-tracking studies. In Oregon, the Act would directly support the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program, which is administered by the Department of Human Services and Dept of Environmental Quality. The program monitors beaches from Astoria to Brookings for fecal bacteria, and reports elevated levels to the public. If you haven't already, please participate in the action alert below to let your federal representatives know you support enhanced water quality monitoring for ocean beaches. After all, it's your beach! Click here to take action: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/beachact_2007