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

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

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, based on the bureau, though its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company said in a press release Tuesday's choice was meant to protect "hydropower era, the power's key infrastructure, and the water supply for 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 have now never taken this step before, however the potential danger on the horizon demands prompt 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 bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 feet in the final three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capability 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 advised CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to offer anybody."

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

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency answerable for managing water assets for two.2 million folks 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 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's probably that we will find further bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.