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 year. The second is water will probably be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will enhance Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in accordance with the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million houses and businesses in seven states.

The agency mentioned in a press release Tuesday's determination was meant to protect "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the city of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We've got by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential threat on the horizon calls for prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo informed reporters. "We need to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 ft within the last three years as the West has been besieged by drought. As the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity to generate power.

Bryan Hill, basic supervisor 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 informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we don't have any water to provide anybody."

The selections made for Lake Powell also have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir within the nation.

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to expose one of the reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water sources for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a body in a barrel police say is a possible homicide victim from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we'll discover extra bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops extra.