Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman three of six closed beaches in Ulster County have reopened for swimming. Kingston Point Beach, the beach at Ulster Landing Park in the town of Ulster and Rifton Rec in the town of Esopus were closed last week due to high levels of bacteria in the water and have now been reopened to swimmers, the Ulster County Department of Health said July 26. The Rip Van Winkle Beach in Saugerties, the lake at the YMCA’s Camp Seewackamano in Shokan, and the Marbletown Beach remain closed. The six beaches were closed July 20 after water quality samples revealed elevated levels of the enterococci bacteria. The bacteria is found in human and animal feces and can cause a variety of illnesses and infections, including urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal illnesses. The water tests were repeated on July 24, and based on those results, three beaches were reopened. The water at the beaches that remain closed will be tested again in mid-August. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.