Louisiana to get $359K for water quality monitoring at beaches

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The state will get $359,000 in funding to monitor water quality as summer nears and people travel to Louisiana’s beaches to beat the heat.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) will receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant for monitoring and notifying communities of high levels of bacteria.

“Ensuring the safety of beaches allows all Americans to have fun in the sun while providing an economic boost to coastal communities,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “I applaud Administrator Zeldin’s initiative for ensuring our economies along the Gulf of America are vibrant and thriving.”

Over 10 beaches are under an advisory as of the most recent samples from May 27. LDH’s Beach Monitoring Program tests water at sites along the coast weekly from May to October for enterococci bacteria.

See which Louisiana beaches are under advisory:

• Constance Beach
• Cypremort Point State Park Beach
• Long (Dung) Beach
• Gulf Breeze Beach
• Grand Isle Beach Site #2
• Grand Isle Beach Site #3
• Grand Isle State Park Site #1
• Grand Isle State Park Site #2
• Grand Isle State Park Site #3
• Grand Isle State Park Site #4
• Holly Beach Site #1
• Holly Beach Site #2
• Holly Beach Site #3
• Holly Beach Site #4
• Holly Beach Site #5
• Holly Beach Site #6
• Lake Chares North Beach
• Little Florida Beach
• Martin (Mae’s) Beach
• Rutherford Beach

Planning a trip to the coast soon? Click here to see the latest advisories.

According to LDH’s 2024 report on beaches in Louisiana, bacteria densities were higher than in 2023 and higher than historic norms at several beaches, including Constance Beach Complex, Holly Beach, Lake Charles North Beach and Rutherford Beach.

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