By CHRIS COLLINS
(Amherst, MA) — The heavy July rain has left area swimming enthusiasts with fewer and fewer options. A combination of high bacteria levels and structural damage have closed the Green River Swimming Area in Greenfield indefinitely, and now the town of Amherst has announced that two popular swim areas, Puffer’s Pond among them, have been closed until further notice because of higher than acceptable e coli levels. Another concern is high water levels, which have created potentially dangerous swimming conditions in a number of area rivers and waterways.