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 yr. The second is water shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin 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, in keeping with the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The agency mentioned in a press release Tuesday's choice was supposed to guard "hydropower era, 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 buy the federal authorities 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"We've got by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential danger on the horizon demands prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 toes within the final three years as 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 power.

Bryan Hill, common supervisor of the general 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 present anybody."

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

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's determination could lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to reveal one of the reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency accountable for managing water assets 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 level: a body in a barrel police say is a possible murder victim from the 1980s.

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