Lake Powell officials take emergency steps to protect hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water will be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will increase Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in keeping with the bureau, although its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million properties and businesses in seven states.

The agency stated in a press release Tuesday's decision was meant to protect "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

The emergency actions will buy the federal government 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"Now we have never taken this step before, but the potential danger on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We need to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 toes in the last three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capability to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, common manager of the general public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously instructed CNN. "Judgment day being when we don't have any water to provide anyone."

The decisions made for Lake Powell also affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's choice might lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in accordance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency liable for managing water sources for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a probable murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we will discover additional our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops more.