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 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 dual actions will enhance 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 line with the bureau, although its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was about a 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam may 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 an announcement Tuesday's choice was supposed to guard "hydropower generation, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have never taken this step before, however the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo informed reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 toes in 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 power.

Bryan Hill, normal supervisor of the general public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously advised CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to provide anybody."

The choices made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's decision could lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency accountable for managing water resources for two.2 million folks in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a probable homicide sufferer from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we'll discover further our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops more.