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 year. The second is water will likely 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 nearly 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, according to the bureau, although its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The agency stated in an announcement Tuesday's decision was supposed 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 purchase the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

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

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

Bryan Hill, general supervisor of the public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

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

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

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to show one of the reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency answerable for managing water assets for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water stage: a physique in a barrel police say is a possible homicide sufferer from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is seemingly that we are going to find further our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.