AUGUSTA, Maine - With summer officially here this weekend, residents and tourists alike can be assured that Maine's beaches are routinely monitored to protect public health and almost always open for swimming.
"I welcome both Maine residents and visitors to our coast and to feel confident that Maine's beaches are clean, safe and open for swimming," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Maine's iconic coastline draws thousands of visitors each year who appreciate that Maine's beaches are some of the cleanest in the country. On behalf of the Healthy Beaches program, I want to thank beachgoers for their care and stewardship of Maine's beaches."
The department-run Maine Healthy Beaches Program receives funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and staff support from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to monitor water quality at Maine's 55 public access beaches. In addition to monitoring, MHB staff delivered 36 technical trainings for 159 local staff and volunteers.
Program volunteers, municipal officials and state park employees collect samples which are analyzed for the
