ALBANY, N.Y., April 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., says there are more than 1,100 dams considered high and significant hazards in upstate New York.
Three-quarters of the dams have no emergency action plan to protect local homes, businesses and human life should dam breakage and subsequent flooding occur, Schumer said.
Dams provides flood protection, drinking water, hydroelectric power, navigation, irrigation and recreation, yet many of these hazardous dams are nearly a century old, and with the spring thaw fast-approaching, the risk to the surrounding community is great, Schumer said.
The National Inventory of Dams said the average dam in New York state is 60 years old, and high hazard dams are an average 84 years old.
Schumer called on his senate colleagues to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2013, to improve navigation, coastal management and infrastructure financing.
For example, in 2011, after receiving about 12 inches of rainfall from Hurricane Irene, the Gilboa Dam, which holds some 18 billion gallons of water -- 35 miles from Albany -- was placed on alert and officials issued an evacuation order for downstream residents. Some 10-12 feet of water went through some towns. The alarm went off warning residents of dam failure, but the alarm should not have sounded and the dam held.
Recent state regulations require hazardous dams to develop emergency action plans in conjunction with state and local dam safety experts, but this planning needs funding from the federal government, Schumer said.
