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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water might be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin 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 keeping with the bureau, though its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% probability 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 said in a statement Tuesday's choice was supposed to protect "hydropower generation, the power's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the city of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have now never taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, general supervisor of the general public power utility in Page, Arizona, likened the situation to judgment day.

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

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the country.

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, in accordance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company answerable for managing water sources for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a physique in a barrel police say is a possible murder sufferer from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we will discover extra our bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops extra.