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

Step one is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will probably be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being despatched 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 accordance with the bureau, though its full capability 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 might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million houses and businesses in seven states.

The company said in an announcement Tuesday's resolution was intended to protect "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 now have never taken this step earlier than, but the potential threat on the horizon calls for prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 toes within the last three years as the West has been besieged by drought. As the water degree has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capability to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, common supervisor of the general public power utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario 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 present anybody."

The selections made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for those who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination may lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company accountable for managing water assets for two.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a likely murder sufferer from the 1980s.

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