The Buffalo News says that a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council shows Western New York beaches frequently exceeded the daily maximum bacteria standards and had to be closed. Most of the problem can be traced to contaminants that enter the water through storm and sewer drains.New York beaches exceeded pollution standards 11 percent of the time in 2007, compared with 9 percent in 2006.

According to the study, samples from Chautauqua County beaches exceeded standards 23 percent of the time, the highest percentage in the state, followed by Wright Park West Beach in Dunkirk at 38 percent. Erie County had the third highest rate — 21 percent — followed by Niagara in fourth place with 18 percent. Citing federal Environmental Protection Agency data covering 365 beaches in the state, the report said beaches exceeded pollution standards 11 percent of the time in 2007, compared with 9 percent in 2006.