Kaczor is the coordinator of the statewide program that is dedicated to monitoring water quality and protecting public health on Maine’s coastal beaches.
The program, which is funded annually by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant managed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), was recently awarded $177,500 for “Maine Healthy Beaches 2015.”
The program is a partnership between UMaine Extension/Maine Sea Grant, the Maine DEP and local municipalities.
Participation in the program is voluntary and provides a quality-assured, unified structure for monitoring, assessment and public notification of coastal beach water quality conditions. Beaches in the program span from Kittery to Mount Desert Island, according to Kaczor.
UMaine Extension staff involved in the project work to make well-informed beach management decisions as well as address pollution issues, Kaczor says.