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 back in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will enhance 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.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam might 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 stated in an announcement Tuesday's choice was intended to protect "hydropower era, the facility'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 government 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We have now by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential threat on the horizon demands immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft within the final three years because the West has been besieged by drought. As the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity to generate energy.

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

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously told CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to provide anybody."

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

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to show one of many reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency liable for managing water resources for two.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

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