Lake Powell officials 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 can be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being despatched 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, according to 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 power for as many as 5.8 million properties and companies in seven states.

The company stated in a statement Tuesday's determination was intended to guard "hydropower generation, the power'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 as it considers longer-term measures.

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

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft 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 power.

Bryan Hill, basic manager of the public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario 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 anyone."

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

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's choice may lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to reveal one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency chargeable for managing water sources for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water stage: a body in a barrel police say is a likely murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's likely that we are going to find additional our bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops more.