Lake Powell officials take emergency steps to protect hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water will probably be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin 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, in line with the bureau, although its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out 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 houses and businesses in seven states.

The agency said in a statement Tuesday's decision was supposed to protect "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the town of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

The emergency actions will buy the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We have by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon demands immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised 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 last three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capacity to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, general manager of the public power utility in Page, Arizona, likened the situation to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously told 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 biggest reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for individuals who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination could result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to reveal one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company accountable for managing water resources for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a body in a barrel police say is a likely murder sufferer from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's likely that we'll discover extra bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.