21 ‘High-Priority’ State Stream and River Gauges Avoid Closure

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey has new funding that will keep several important lake and stream gauges in upstate New York operating for the foreseeable future.

Sen. Charles Schumer says 21 high-priority gauges will receive federal funding and not close as planned at the end of the month. Of those 21, Schumer confirms that 15 will receive long-term funding and the remaining six have been funded through at least 2014.

Schumer stresses the new funding does not include all of New York's high-priority gauges. Among those with long-term funding are gauges on the Susquehanna River at Vestal and near Waverly along New York's Southern Tier. Schumer says the importance of New York's more than 200 stream and river gauges is more apparent in light of recent upstate flooding.