Save the Sound and state leaders say Connecticut's beaches are improving but are still not up to par.

Lawmakers accompanied the organization in announcing the results of the annual national "Testing the Waters" report Tuesday. The report says that beach closings are down in Connecticut, but up nationwide.

Connecticut beaches were closed 108 days last year. That's a 50 percent drop from 2006.

Beaches closed most often in southwestern Connecticut include Stratford's Short and Long beaches, Cummings Park in Stamford and Byram Beach in Greenwich.

State Sen. Gayle Slossberg (D-Milford) says the numbers can be deceiving, however.

"If you look at beach closings, a lot are pre-emptive, meaning there wasn't necessarily contamination but they were worried about a big rain and under most circumstances it's prudent to close," she says. "I don't think there's a lot of worry but people need to be aware it does happen on occasion."