Lake Powell officers take emergency steps to preserve hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will boost Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, based on the bureau, though its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and companies in seven states.

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

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

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

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

Bryan Hill, normal manager of the general public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to offer anybody."

The choices made for Lake Powell also affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir within the country.

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to reveal one of many reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water resources for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other 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 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's likely that we will find extra our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops more.