U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York says there are more than a thousand dams in the state, outside of New York City, that are considered high or significant hazards.

The Democrat says 157 of those dams are in the Southern Tier.

Schumer is calling for the passage of The Water Resources Development Act to increase Federal funding for the inspection of dams, maintenance of structures and updates to safety guidelines.

Those expenses had been covered through The National Dam Safety Program, which has expired.

Schumer says many communities at damsites don't have an emergency notification plan should the dam fail.

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