Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) criticized President Obama's proposal to kill a beach water quality testing program and is working with congressional budget writers to save it.

Just weeks after a U.S. EPA-led study found a correlation between digging in beach sand and gastrointestinal illness -- the likely result of fecal bacteria that finds its way into the water from nearby sewage treatment plants -- Obama proposed eliminating EPA's beach water quality testing program in his 2013 budget proposal.

Cutting the program, which provides grants to states to help with monitoring and notifying the public of unsafe swimming conditions, would save $9.9 million, the administration said.

"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," said page 28 of EPA's budget justification.

The decision rankled Nelson, and he wrote a letter to Obama last week objecting to the cut.

Florida is a top recipient of the grant funds, receiving $516,000 of the $9.8 million awarded to 38 states in 2012. Second was California, with $506,000.

Nelson wrote that he was "so concerned" that he asked Sens. Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska -- the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee's top Democrat and Republican, respectively -- "to restore funding for clean beaches."

The Florida Department of Health said that $552,000 of the $740,000 the state spent last year on water quality testing came from the federal government, Nelson wrote.

"Reduced funding would lead to less testing, which could put Floridians and tourists at risk," Nelson wrote. He cited last month's study, saying, "We should be focused on keeping beaches clean and protecting public health."