Federal funding to help Hawaii monitor beach water quality could dry up if President Barack Obama gets his way. In the Obama administration’s budget request for next year, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it will eliminate the Beaches Grant Program as a way to save $10 million.

“While beach monitoring continues to be important, well understood guidelines are in place, and state and local government programs have the technical expertise and procedures to continue beach monitoring without federal support,” EPA officials wrote in the budget request released this month. 

Local governments may have the technical know-how to monitor their beaches, but what about the money? DC808 could not reach state Clean Water Branch officials for comment on Monday. A spokesman for the Honolulu Environmental Services Department said that the city does not get any of the federal funds that go toward water monitoring at beaches.  

Last year, Hawaii got $331,000 in federal funding to monitor beach water quality. The year before, the state received $326,000. Hawaii has consistently received more money than other eligible states. Two exceptions: California and Florida received more than half a million dollars each last year.